《Who Let Him Cultivate Immortality!》 Chapter 430: Using Five Elements Techniques in Front of Me? Chapter 430: Using Five Elements Techniques in Front of Me? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Qiu Jinan? One of the so-called Five Great Immortal Sects leaders of The Great Xia? Fellow Daoist Meng climbed up from the ground, seemingly not too injured. He scoffed at Qiu Jinans identity. The reason he had been struck by Qiu Jinan earlier was purely because of a sneak attack. If they were to really fight, the oue would be far from certain. Fellow Daoist Meng came from the peak period of the Great Yu Dynasty. At that time, the Great Yu Dynasty was no less powerful than The Great Xia of today, and he had been one of the top Unity Stage cultivators of that era. In terms of status, he was no lower than Qiu Jinan. To have survived tens of thousands of years and to still be executing ns in this new era naturally meant that he had his own unique strengths. Although The Great Xia had many strong cultivators today, after tens of thousands of years, much of the knowledge and techniques had been lost. But he still held these ancient and lost techniques. One side mastered ancient, lost techniques, while the other side did not. It wasnt difficult to see who would be stronger. Sect Leader Qiu?! Lu Yang and the others were overjoyed. The Great Yu cultivators might be arrogant and ignorant of Qiu Jinans strength, but they knew all too well. This was the Sect Leader who had grown up being relentlessly challenged by the Dao Seeking Sects Nine! They had often fought to stalemates, with neither side iming clear victory. As one of the foremost masters of Five Elements Techniques in the current era, even the Minister of Justice would likely find it hard to defeat Qiu Jinan! Apart from Daoist Non-Speaker, the undisputed number one Unity Stage cultivator, no one dared say they could definitively defeat Qiu Jinan! Qiu Jinan! Zhao Po was equally stunned, but then felt reassured. The reputation of the Five Great Immortal Sects echoed throughout The Great Xia Dynasty, far surpassing that of the Corpse-Driving Sect. Zhao Po nced at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou and saw that, while they were pleased, their reactions were much calmer than his. Suddenly, Zhao Po recalled Meng Jingzhous cursehalf a step into the Tribtion Crossing Stagewondering who Meng Jingzhou had provoked. Before, Zhao Po had been puzzled. How could someone at Meng Jingzhous Golden Core Stage have provoked such a powerful enemy? Now, he was starting to understand. In just a few days, they had encountered an ancient Unity Stage cultivator. Barbarian Bone, on the other hand, was no stranger to grand scenes. He had witnessed the fall of the Evesting Sect firsthand, a spectacle far grander than this. The Drowning Ghost was so terrified he nearly died again. The situation had far exceeded his understandingUnity Stage cultivators from the Great Yu Dynasty, the Sect leader of one of the Five Great Immortal Sectsthese were not figures a lowly water ghost like him could ever hope to encounter. As for Huang Zaoer, who had schemed tomit insurance fraud, she had long since fainted in fear. Amid the joy, Lu Yang suddenly thought of another problem. Wait a second, why is Sect Leader Qiu here, and why did he show up so conveniently? Its simplehes been following you, Evesting Fairy replied as if it were the most obvious thing. No matter how stealthy Qiu Jinans concealment techniques were, they were still no match for Evesting Fairys insight. Following us? Since when? Since you and Meng Jingzhou tried to enter the city but got caught in the mudslide. Thats basically from the beginning! Not exactly. It started when you entered the shady shop, Evesting Fairy corrected Lu Yangs mistaken logic with a serious tone. Fellow Daoist Meng was not intimidated by Qiu Jinans presence. He even considered making a move. Little brats of The Great Xia, let me show you what ancient techniques look like Great Sun Suspended in the Sky! A bronze tree illusion slowly manifested behind Fellow Daoist Meng, with two great suns flickering in and out of view, radiating endless light and heat. Just ncing at it made one feel as though they were melting. In the center of the suns, the Golden Crow spread its wings and let out a piercing cry. Qiu Jinan casually raised a light barrier to protect Lu Yang and the others. This was a Unity Stage killing movejust brushing past it would be fatal for Lu Yang and hispanions. Qiu Jinan pondered for a moment, as if recalling something he had read about this technique in ancient texts, and slowly began to speak. ording to legend, in ancient times, ten Golden Crows lived on the Fusang Tree. Each day, one Golden Crow would go out to circle the heavens. But one day, all ten Golden Crows flew out at once, bringing disaster upon the world. An ancient hero shot down nine of the suns with his bow. During the Great Yu Dynasty, there was a man who, inspired by this ancient tale, conducted his own research. He found a branch of the Fusang Tree andbined it with Golden Crow True Fire, creating a divine ability known as Ten Suns Patrol the Sky, which elevated the power of Golden Crow True Fire to a whole new level. That man became a grandmaster of the fire path and founded the Heavenly me Sect, gaining fame across the world. However, after his disappearance, the Ten Suns Patrol the Sky technique was lost, and after struggling for eight thousand years, the Heavenly me Sect was eventually destroyed by their enemies. ording to records, that mans title was Meng Tian True Lord. (TL Note: Wikipedia article about Hou Yi shooting down the 10 suns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hou_Yi) Having his identity revealed by Qiu Jinan, Fellow Daoist Meng didnt seem perturbed, a cold smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. You are well-informed. While I can only use Two Suns Patrol the Sky at present, once I seed in my Tribtion Crossing, I will be able to use Five Suns Patrol the Sky. When I reach the Perfect Tribtion Crossing Stage, I will be able to use all ten suns, recreating the ancient catastrophe! Unfortunately, my current cultivation level cant keep up with the full technique. But its more than enough to deal with a little brat like you! Here and now, I set the rule: I can use Three Suns Patrol the Sky! On the Fusang Tree behind him, a third sun rose into the sky! Since they were close to Han Shui City, causing too much of amotion would certainly attract the citys experts. Therefore, Meng Tian True Lord skipped any drawn-out process and immediately used his strongest move. Unity Stage cultivators cannot casually set rules; otherwise, Meng Tian True Lord would have directly used all ten suns at once. In Unity-level battles, there are typically two kinds of rules: one that strengthens oneself, and one that restricts the opponent. The power of rules that strengthen oneself depends on the Unity Stage cultivators limits, a way to tap into hidden potential. When restricting opponents, the rules must be bnced in number. If you restrict your opponent once, they can also restrict you once, with the type of restriction being flexible. A single mistake can lead to defeat. For example, when a Great Yu Unity Stage cultivator, who used beasts to refine a soul-reaping banner, fought with Vice Sect Leader Petrified, the rule set by the Great Yu Unity was: Except for me, everyone within 500 feet moves slower. Vice Sect Leader Petrifieds rule in response was: Within 500 feet, no one can use demonic artifacts. This was an example of equal restriction in action. As the three suns zed in the sky, the Golden Crows cry echoed, and the scorching suns truly seemed capable of recreating the ancient disaster. Go! Meng Tian True Lord raised his hand, his two fingers pointing sharply at Qiu Jinan and those behind him. If Qiu Jinan dodged, the people behind him would certainly perish! He was confident that Qiu Jinan wouldnt evade! Sigh Qiu Jinan faced the three suns and sighed softly. Stepping forward, the Five Colored Light Wheel behind him shone brilliantly, transforming into Five Colored Divine Light. All things within the five elements were under its control. Swish Under the wash of the Five Colored Divine Light, the three zing suns gradually dissolved. So, the legendary Ten Suns Patrol the Sky, which was said to be like a natural disaster, is only this strong? Impossible! Meng Tian True Lord stared in disbelief. His strongest move had been neutralized so effortlessly? The opponent hadnt even set a rule! Before he could fully grasp what had happened, Qiu Jinan moved in a blur and stepped on Meng Tian True Lord. The force of that step was as heavy as a hundred thousand mountains, pinning Meng Tian True Lord to the ground, his limbs iling helplessly. Qiu Jinan looked down at Meng Tian True Lord calmly and said, Ive never seen anyone dare to use five elements techniques in front of me. Even the nine bastards from the Dao Seeking Sect wouldnt dare. (TL Note: In Chinese mythology, Fusang refers to a divine tree and an ind which are both located in the East, from where the sun rises. The term Fusang wouldter be used as a designation for Japan in Chinese poetry. Since Japanese name Nihon (ձ, lit. Root [i.e. source, birthce, origin] of the Sun) or the Chinese name Riben was a name of Japan, some Tang dynasty poets believed that Fusang y between the maind and Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusang) (End of the chapter) Chapter 1: Today is Suitable for Travel, But Not for Cheating Chapter 1: Today is Suitable for Travel, But Not for Cheating Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii On the second day of the second lunar month, its suitable for traveling. The moderate rain was pouring down noisily, bringing forth the fragrance of the soil as it hit the ground, causing ripples on the surface of theke, and provoking quiet curses from the people itnded on. Who said it was a good day for traveling? It starts raining as soon as I step outside,ined Lu Yang, regretting not bringing a raincoat in advance. It was his first time traveling far from home, and he was inexperienced. The sudden rain soaked him, making his shoes muddy and every step felt like the ground was against himhe had to pull his feet out of the mud. The sound of trotting hooves approached from behind, catching Lu Yangs attention. Turning his head, he saw a horse carriage approaching him. There was no coachman, and the old horse seemed to know the way, not needing anyone to steer it. What a mystical horse. Lu Yang marveled. The horse had a few scales on its forehead, resembling snake scales, clearly some sort of rare demonic beast. Although he didnt understand its true value, he knew this old horse was precious. At least, it was beyond his means to afford it. This brother slowly walking in the rain, it is truly elegant. Why note and sit in the carriage? a cheerful male voice came from the carriage. Lu Yang epted the offer, pulling his feet out of the mud and hurriedly got in. Sorry to impose, my name is Lu Yang. Lu Yang carefully sat inside, afraid of dirtying the carriage with the mud and rainwater on him. Meng Jingzhou, the owner of the carriage introduced himself, just as easy-going and optimistic as his voice suggested, seemingly able to strike up a conversation with anyone. Brother Lu, are you also here to participate in the Dao Seeking Sects recruitment? Just trying my luck. Meng Jingzhouughed heartily, Brother Lu, what harm is there in being honest? If you were just trying your luck, you wouldnt have braved the rain to get to the Dao Seeking Sect. Lu Yang felt a bit embarrassed, Who doesnt want to enter the Dao Seeking Sect? The Dao Seeking Sect, one of the five great immortal sects in the Central Continent, was immensely powerful and housed innumerable cultivation experts. Today, the Dao Seeking Sect was looking for disciples and countless individuals were trying their luck at the recruitment. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were among them. Lu Yang had transmigrated to the Central Continent where his parents died early. He survived on the small inheritance they left and the help of his neighbors. In the small town where he had lived for over a decade, he heard from a storyteller about immortals knocking on the gates of heaven with their swords, about river demons turning over five hundred miles away causing floods, about disciples of immortal sects flying with swords to y demons and defending the path of righteousness. He had seen unkempt Daoists cheat and deceive, fly up into the air, publicly break out of prison, and then get captured again by the authorities who could also fly. At that time, he realized this was not the world he was familiar with and not any era that he knew. This was a world of cultivation where individuals wielded great power. He aspired to seek the path of immortality, to learn the arts of evesting life. The Dao Seeking Sect was his first choice. There was no particr reason for choosing the Dao Seeking Sect, simply because there were no other sects around his home, only the Dao Seeking Sect. Where the Dao Seeking Sect stood, other sects would not foolishly try to establish themselves nearby. In their conversation, Lu Yang learned that Meng Jingzhou came from a family of cultivators, possessing far more knowledge about cultivation than Lu Yang did. The Dao Seeking Sects requirements for recruiting disciples are that they must be mortals under the age of sixteen. Not just the Dao Seeking Sect, most sects have this requirement. The path of cultivation is long and full of obstacles. Qi training, foundation building, golden core, nascent soul, spirit transformation, void refinement, unity, tribtion crossingeach stage is a major hurdle, stopping countless people. One in ten, one in twenty, or even one in a hundred might seed. There are many factors determining sess in cultivation, such as luck, wisdom, spiritual roots By the way, Brother Lu, do you know what your spiritual root is? The Dao Seeking Sect doesnt have high requirements for spiritual roots, but they still wont ept very poor ones. Lu Yang frowned; he only knew about spiritual roots from the storyteller and didnt know his own. I dont know, what about you, Brother Meng? Meng Jingzhou looked perplexed and shook his head, I was tested for spiritual roots in my n. The elders looked worried and didnt tell me the result, just saying that my talent was extraordinary and entering one of the five great immortal sects wouldnt be a problem. Later, I secretly asked my parents. They were even more worried than the elders and also didnt tell me. Lu Yang spected, Maybe your spiritual root is so extraordinary that it might bring disaster to the Meng family. Only a huge sect like the Dao Seeking Sect could protect you. Exactly what I was thinking, Meng Jingzhou patted Lu Yangs shoulder, seeing him more and more as a kindred spirit, a natural seed for cultivation. Lu Yang, listening to the increasingly heavy rain outside, felt fortunate that Meng Jingzhou had let him into the carriage. Stop. Suddenly, Meng Jingzhou shouted. The old horse trotted a few steps and then gradually stopped. The carriage itself was a treasure, allowing Meng Jingzhou to see outside. He saw a woman walking in the rain, just like Lu Yang had been earlier. Thisdy seems to be heading in the direction of the Dao Seeking Sect for the test. The rain is pouring so heavily; why note up and rest in the carriage? The woman was surprised by Meng Jingzhous offer but eventually agreed. As the woman got on, both Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang were stunned. Meng Jingzhou, though well-traveled, had never seen such a beautiful woman. Lu Yang, even more sothe most beautiful woman he had seen was the young widow who sold tofu next door. Of course, Lu Yang was a gentleman and had no improper thoughts about the widow. The woman, like an exquisite but not mboyant lotus flower, stood slender and elegant in her white dress, clear-eyed and bright-toothed, giving off a sense of otherworldliness. She wore a string of golden bells on her right wrist. Yun Zhi thanks you both. Her voice was like a clear spring, making one feelfortable when listening. Lu Yang noticed something odd and whispered, Brother Meng, why is she dry? Could she be a demon? In the stories, demons often transformed into beautiful women to seduce young men full of vigor like themselves. Lu Yang was drenched like a drowned chicken, battered and exhausted. Inparison, Yun Zhi was dry, not looking like she had walked in the rain at all. Meng Jingzhou didnt think much of it, Maybe she has a treasure that wards off rain. Thats not umon inrge families. Meng Jingzhou wasnt worried that Yun Zhi was a monster or demon. This was the Dao Seeking Sects territory, and no monster would dare cause trouble here and send themselves to death. Miss Yun Zhi, are you here to participate in the Dao Seeking Sects test? Indeed. Meng Jingzhou said helpfully, I have the content of the Dao Seeking Sects test here. I spent a lot of money to get it from an elder of the Dao Seeking Sect. Would you like to hear it? Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou in surprise; why hadnt he mentioned this before? Yun Zhi was even more surprised than Lu Yang, This is cheating. What if the Dao Seeking Sect finds out Meng Jingzhou waved his hand confidently, This carriage is a treasure. Even those great cultivators, or old monsters in seclusion, cant use their divine senses to probe here. I see, please tell me the content of the test. Lu Yang perked up his ears to listen. Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat, The Dao Seeking Sects test is divided into three parts. The first part tests the spiritual root. This is a rigid test; theres no trickery or shortcuts. The second and third parts are where theres room to operate. The second part tests moral character. A carriage is out of control and is about to hit five people lying on the side of the road. If it hits them, they will undoubtedly die. Theres also another person lying not far away. We, as bystanders, can control the direction of the out-of-control carriage. Do we choose to ignore it and let it hit the five people, or do we change the direction and hit the other person? Without hesitation, Lu Yang said, Hit the other person. Meng Jingzhou was surprised. Ever since he learned the content of the second part, he hadnt figured out a solution. How did Lu Yang decide so quickly? Choosing to ignore it means watching five people get hit and killed. Its theoretically justifiable, but it doesnt sit well with ones conscience. Choosing to change the direction and hit the other person means that person is just unlucky and deserves to be hit and killed, and its also your own doing. Meng Jingzhou shared his doubts, and Lu Yang exined, You dont have that much time to think. By the time youe up with a result, those five people would have already been hit and killed. I guess the Dao Seeking Sects test isnt about choosing to save five people or one person, but seeing if you can make a quick decision. I heard the storyteller say that the difference of a hairs breadth can mean life or death in a fight between cultivators. The moral character tested in the second part isnt about whether youre indecisive or decisive, but about making the quickest decision. Thats the most important. Meng Jingzhou suddenly understood. The third part tests honesty. The Dao Seeking Sect has a mirror that can tell if youre telling the truth or a lie. If youre found to have told a lie, youre directly kicked out of the test. Lu Yang pondered, This part is simple. If you werent warned in advance, its easy to lie to cover up for yourself. But since we know in advance, just tell the truth. Meng Jingzhou nodded; he thought the same. The two discussed for a while,ing up with many possible emergencies and countermeasures, and after deliberation, they felt confident. Yun Zhi smiled slightly, seemingly finding their ns sound. Thank you for the information, Young Master Lu. Uh, has the rain stopped? Lu Yang noticed that the sound of raindrops hitting the ground had ceased outside and curiously peeked outside. The area they had just passed was still under heavy rain, while their location was sunny and fragrant with the scent of flowers, as if an unparalleled sword energy had split the world into two halves, yin and yang, never intersecting. Lu Yang looked up to see numerous rare beasts and immortal treasures rushing towards the towering mountain that pierced the sky. The towering mountain was coated in ayer of pale gold by the sunlight, with magnificent patterns spreading out from behind the mountain, covering the sky and blocking the rain. That was the gateway mountain of the Dao Seeking Sect, protected by a great formation, impervious to all. Out of respect for the Dao Seeking Sect, cultivation geniuses, led by their family elders,nded at the foot of the mountain, waiting for the Dao Seeking Sect to start the test. The old horse was already a rare demonic beast, butpared to the divine and extraordinary beasts resting at the foot of the mountain, it was stillcking. Mom, this is much more impressive than our Meng familys estate, Meng Jingzhou rubbed his hands, a bit nervous, but more excited about the thought of passing the test and bing a member of the Dao Seeking Sect. Lu Yang was silent. He could see the mountain from his home, but it didnt feel like much from a distance. Standing at the foot of the mountain, he realized the enormity of the structure. He was a bit nervous. He had solutions for the second and third parts, but he still didnt know his spiritual root. He might not even pass the first part of the test. Dozens of cultivators floated in the air, guarding in front of the mountain, all exuding powerful aura fluctuations. Lu Yang suspected that if they fully released their auras, few people present could stand. These cultivators were silent, imposing a psychological pressure without a word. Lu Yang heard a family elder introducing to a younger member, Judging by their Daoist robe styles, these are core disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect, all disciples of various elders. In the future, these people will be your senior brothers and sisters. Dont be nervous. Theyre not deliberately pressuring you. It seems they are waiting for the person hosting this test. Once the host arrives, the test will begin. Lu Yang turned his head, wanting to see Yun Zhis reaction. Was she excited or nervous? She couldnt still be indifferent, right? Miss Yun Zhi, you Just as Lu Yang was about to say something, he saw Yun Zhi step lightly, and before each stepnded, a white lotus would support her delicate body. The crowd was astonished, and family elders broke into a cold sweat, quickly silencing their juniors. A path of white lotuses spread out, crossing over everyone. Yun Zhi walked to the middle of the Dao Seeking Sects core disciples. The disciples bowed to her respectfully, and Yun Zhi gently raised her hand, then faced the crowd and smiled. Thank you for waiting. I am the senior sister of the Dao Seeking Sect and the host of this test. I announce that the test officially begins. After speaking, Yun Zhi nced at the stunned Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou with a smile that was not quite a smile. She indeed came to participate in the Dao Seeking Sects test, but not as a candidate; she was the examiner. Chapter 2: The Single Spirit Root Chapter 2: The Single Spirit Root Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had only one thought in their minds: they were doomed, having discussed cheating right in front of the examiner. Senior Sister Yun Zhi, acted oblivious to their cheating ns, ncing at them briefly before moving on to organize the test. Her authority among the Dao Seeking Sect disciples was evident,manding respect and obedience. These disciples, revered and idolized outside, were the proud sons of heaven. Yet, they all heeded hermands without hesitation, a testament to Senior Sister Yun Zhis esteemed status. Your Spirit Root is the first hurdle on the path to immortality. Without the right Spirit Root, no amount of resources can aid in cultivation. The first test will assess your Spirit Root. Step forward in turn. Those whock confidence in their Spirit Root may leave now. No one left. Those who came for the Dao Seeking Sects test knew their Spirit Root well. Few, like Lu Yang, were there merely because of proximity. The Dao Seeking Sect aimed to prevent those with insufficient Spirit Root, yet hoping to bluff their way through, from infiltrating their ranks. Typically, a Spirit Root Stone,rge and conspicuous, would be used for testing. Given the emptiness in front of the Dao Seeking Sect, they evidently had no intention of using it. A Dao Seeking Sect disciple named Dai Bufan sat at the forefront. His cultivation technique was unique; a single cirction of spiritual energy through ones body would reveal their Spirit Root, cultivation technique, and even the location of their life gate, making him extremely adept inbat, like a fish in water. Dai Bufan, like an experienced doctor taking ones pulse, could discern ones Spirit Root with just two fingers on the wrist. Triple Spirit Root of metal, water, and fire? Passable, move on. Double Spirit Root of water and fire, not bad. Double Spirit Root of water and wood, once had your foundation damaged. It must have been a severe injury when you were twelve. Ordinarily, it would have leftplications, but fate had other ns. You encountered a benevolent master who, with exquisite medical skills, healed you and restored your root foundation. The individual was slightly astonished, not expecting Dai Bufans uracy, When I was twelve, my mother passed away. My stepmother decided to take action, fearing my presence might threaten her sons status. She plotted against me. I fell into aa and woke up unharmed. My father told me a kind stranger had passed by and saved me but left without leaving their name. As the individual left, Dao Seeking Sect disciples came to congratte Dai Bufan for his advanced skills, You deduced the whole story just by taking the pulse, as if you witnessed it yourself! Brother Dais skills have truly progressed! Dai Bufan nonchntly responded, Oh, its nothing. That kind stranger was me. I was in a hurry and forgot to leave my name after saving him. Amidst the conversation, Dai Bufan gestured for the next person to step forward, Eighteen years old, too old, you may leave. A cute little monk, guided by an elder monk, approached Dai Bufan and respectfully greeted him. Dai Bufan cast a nce at the little monk and handed him back to the elder monk, Whats a novice monk from the Hanging Temple doing here? Your body bears the imprint left by the Hanging Temples abbot. Off you go, back to your Hanging Temple. (TL Note: The Hanging Temple is based off a real ce in China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Temple) Isnt the Hanging Temple one of the five great immortal sects? Lu Yang whispered to Meng Jingzhou. Meng Jingzhou nodded, speaking seriously, The Hanging Temple has the fewest disciples among the five great immortal sects. At times, it has only the abbot and one disciple. Even at its fullest, it never exceeds ten. This novice monk, not yet a cultivator, is already a disciple of the Hanging Temple, surely possessing profound Buddhist virtues. Watching the novice monk escorted away by his senior, Meng Jingzhou felt a sense of rivalry, I thought Id be peerless in the future cultivation world. It seems there are others worthy of being my rivals. Lu Yang couldnt fathom where Meng Jingzhous confidence came from, Arent you worried that Miss Yun Zhi might kick us out? Whats there to worry about? Havent you read the novels? The big sects are always blind, falsely using and banishing talented youths. The youths take it as a disgrace, strive hard, encounter fortuitous adventures, and soar to the skies, bing a presence the big sects look up to oh wait, look down upon. After a moment of silence, Lu Yang reminded, But Miss Yun Zhi doesnt need to falsely use us Good point. Meng Jingzhou, too, started to panic. Your internal energy circtes endlessly on its own, and your attire doesnt resemble that of a cultivation family. Could it be that you consumed the Azure Wood Immortal Fruit in your childhood? You may pass. Interesting physique, Dai Bufan remarked, his fingers on a brawny man with bronze skin, his eyes lighting up, Ancient barbarian lineage, havent seen that in a long time. The man, tall and sturdy with a shiny bald head reflecting the sunlight, looked like he could be twenty-five or twenty-six. But since Dai Bufan didnt question his age, he must be under sixteen. All Lu Yang could say was, he developed well. The crowd stirred slightly. The ancient barbarian lineage, known for its ability to uproot mountains and swallow the sun and moon, flourished to its zenith before vanishing into the annals of time. The Central Continent had not seen the ancient barbarian lineage for ages. Everyone thought this ancient bloodline had disappeared, but now, it surprisingly appeared in the Dao Seeking Sects test. Yawning, Dai Bufan had already inspected half of the candidates. Not even one Single Spirit Root? Had the other sects snatched them all away? Meng Jingzhou confidently stepped forward. Dai Bufan had little expectation, but when his index and middle fingers touched Meng Jingzhous wrist, his eyes bulged, and he sprang up, Its actually a single Hearing Dai Bufan, murmurs erupted below, a Single Spirit Root! A Single Spirit Root signified smoother progression through the stages of cultivation, destined to be a grand cultivator of the immortal path. In the court, one could hold high positions; in the wild, one could rule a territory, even establish a kingdom! Everyones gaze focused on Meng Jingzhou, their eyes eager. Befriending such an individual early on did not have any downsides and could only bring benefits! Elders hurriedly instructed their juniors, once inside the Dao Seeking Sect, to establish a good rtionship with Meng Jingzhou. Meng family, Single Spirit Root, Dao Seeking Sect disciple C these three identitiesbined foretold a future influential figure in the Dao Seeking Sect, a cultivation powerhouse destined for history. Single Spirit Root, Dai Bufan announced the full name of Meng Jingzhous Spirit Root, silencing the crowd. Meng Jingzhou was furious. What was this Single Spirit Root? Was it implying a lifetime of being single? I have limited experience, dont trap me in this! Meng Jingzhou, veins bulging, angrily pped the table, causing a loudmotion. Junior Brother Dai, dont jest with others, a voice as ethereal as an immortal came. Yun Zhi emerged from a mist, ring at Dai Bufan, who sheepishly shrank back. Meng Jingzhou calmed down a bit, reassured that Dai Bufan was just fooling around. However, Yun Zhi addressed Meng Jingzhou, But Junior Brother Dai wasnt deceiving you. You indeed possess the Single Spirit Root, thats the academic name. However, in the cultivation world, its moremonly known by its colloquial name, Pure Yang Spirit Root. Meng Jingzhou was speechless. He finally understood why the n elders and his parents never told him his Spirit Root. What Youll find out in the five great immortal sects C they were simply too embarrassed to tell him! No wonder after his Spirit Root test, his parents asked whether he wanted a younger brother or sister. Mutated Single Spirit Root, Pure Yang Spirit Root, the epitome of firmness and positivity, the bane of ghosts and demons. Maintain the Pure Yang state, and cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds. Break the Pure Yang state, and cultivation will plummet. (TL Note: Pure Yang refers to his virginity. He wont be able to have kids which is why his parents asked if he wanted a younger brother or sister) (End of the chapter) Chapter 3: An Honest Man at First Glance Chapter 3: An Honest Man at First nce Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Why does the colloquial name sound more academic than the academic name? Lu Yang muttered under his breath from behind. Because the first cultivator with the Pure Yang Spirit Root called his own spirit root the Single Spirit Root, Yun Zhi, with her unfathomable cultivation, overheard Lu Yangs quietint as if he were speaking right into her ear. Yun Zhi paused, then added, In the cultivation world, its customary to respect the old predecessors who are single. It seemed that adding this would strengthen her argument. Meng Jingzhou, with his Single Spirit Root, naturally passed the first test. Following him was Lu Yangs turn. Hmm?! Another Single Spirit Root?! Dai Bufans pupils constricted slightly. He had just beenining about not encountering a Single Spirit Root despite being busy all day, and now he hade across two in a row. Me, a Single Spirit Root? Lu Yang pointed to himself, his heart pounding rapidly, feeling like he was hearing things, his lips curling up involuntarily. Correct, you have a mutated Single Spirit Root, the Sword Spirit Root, Dai Bufan nodded his head to confirm. He had never made a mistake in detecting spirit roots. The Sword Spirit Root, inherently a sword type, was sharp and unparalleled, most powerful in attack! Senior Sister Yun Zhi looked at Lu Yang with a slight surprise. She had agreed to ride in the carriage on a whim, never expecting both passengers to be top-tier cultivation geniuses. The crowds eyes grew even more eager, calcting suitable young women for Lu Yang, almost wishing to whisk him away to join their own powerful backers. Unlike Meng Jingzhou, who had the Meng familys backing, Lu Yang was clearly of mortal origin, with no support behind him. Excellent talent and no backing C he was the ideal candidate for marriage. And most importantly, he could marry and have children! Lu Yang felt the strange looks from the crowd and hurriedly moved to the second test. Dai Bufans testing area was followed by a bamboo forest, where the second test would take ce. What about you, whats your Spirit Root? Meng Jingzhou, having quickly recovered from the shadow of the Single Spirit Root, eagerly asked Lu Yang. Being a Single Spirit Root, a unique talent, was no matter; the road to immortality was littered with dry bones. Women were but skeletons in rosy makeup, and he didnt need any celestial beauties by his side! As for Lu Yang, although he passed the first test, Meng Jingzhou believed there would only be one talent like him in their generation. Lu Yang was probably just at the level of a Double Spirit Root. He, as a Single Spirit Root genius, should take care of ordinary talents. Sword Spirit Root. Your grandmas (TL Note: Its an insult, basically saying screw your grandmother) Hmm? Lu Yang was confused. After half a day, those queued up behind gradually entered the second test, with Dai Bufan eliminating those whose spirit roots didnt meet the standard. The crowd behind discussed a few more people with unique physiques, but before Lu Yang could inquire further, Senior Sister Yun Zhi appeared before everyone and lightly said, The second test begins now, then vanished, leaving everyone baffled. A thick fog began to rise, engulfing the bamboo forest like a giant, rendering everyone powerless and their consciousness sinking. This was the Illusionary Bamboo Forest, part of the protective formation of the sect, far beyond the resistance of these participants. Yun Zhi effortlessly drew a circle, dispelling the fog and clearing a space. The Dao Seeking Sect disciples stood behind her. Dai Bufan chuckled, Trapped in the Illusionary Bamboo Forest, theyll forget their identities, the test, everything, and show their truest reactions. Just how many will pass the second test? I hope more will pass. There are several good seeds in this batch. It would be a pity to lose them in the second test. Yun Zhi hadnt kicked Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang out of the test because the questions Meng Jingzhou got werent from this year but from twenty years ago. I wonder which elder sold them. Dai Junior Brother, who do you think will pass the second test? Of course, that ancient barbarian. The ancient barbarian lineage is known for its simple-mindedness and unquestionable nature. I think the Single Spirit Root and Sword Spirit Root are not bad either. At first nce, they seem like honest people. Yun Zhi, recalling how Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had discussed cheating in the carriage, felt they were anything but honest. Where am I? The ancient barbarian, named Barbarian Bone, looked around in confusion, forgetting what had just happened. He held a worn-out axe, standing by a river that shimmered beautifully in the sunlight. Barbarian Bones hand slipped, and the axe fell into the river. Just as he was about to retrieve it, the river began bubbling, and a celestial figure appeared before him, holding three different axes. Young man, I am the River Spirit. Was the axe you dropped this old and worn one, this spirit weapon Mountain Splitting Axe, or this celestial weapon Sky Opening Axe? The Mountain Splitting Axe and the Sky Opening Axe, famous in the Central Continent, could propel even a talentless mortal to great heights. It was the old and worn axe, Barbarian Bone blurted out without hesitation. The River Spirit smiled, Such an honest young man. These three axes are now yours. Barbarian Bone passed the second test. See, I told you Barbarian Bone would pass the second test. Lets see how the Single Spirit Root and Sword Spirit Root choose. The second test was about honesty, with the standard being to receive all three axes. The River Spirit wasnt an illusion but a natural spirit born from the river surrounding the bamboo forest. He had countless forms, entering the illusion to test everyone. The River Spirit liked honest people. The only way to pass the second test was to answer his question honestly and receive the three axes. Huh? Why did the axe fall into the river? Lu Yang was puzzled, feeling as if some inexplicable force had made him drop the axe. The River Spirit appeared again, gently asking Lu Yang, Young man, I am the River Spirit. Was the axe you dropped this old and worn one, this spirit weapon Mountain Splitting Axe, or this celestial weapon Sky Opening Axe? Lu Yang squatted down, scanned the three different axes, looked up at the River Spirit as if he were looking at an idiot, his eyes filled with pity, Two of these axes are yours, and you dont know which ones? And youre asking me? The River Spirits smile stiffened, unsure of what to say, but went along with Lu Yangs words, I really dont know which two are mine. Lu Yang eyed the River Spirit warily, If I choose one, you better not suddenly remember which two are yours. Absolutely not, the River Spirit vowed. Let me see all three axes. The River Spirit handed all three axes to Lu Yang. Lu Yang promptly threw all the axes back into the river, Can you ask me that question again? The River Spirit reflexively asked, Was the axe you dropped the old and worn one, the Mountain Splitting Axe, or the Sky Opening Axe? Lu Yangs face broke into a smile, They were all mine. The River Spirit: The River Spirit gritted his teeth, Such an honest young man. All three axes are yours. (End of the chapter) Chapter 4: Just Bring It Here Chapter 4: Just Bring It Here Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii My axe! Meng Jingzhou shouted in the illusion, eager to dive in and retrieve his axe. The River Spirit, holding three axes, appeared above the water. Young child, you Ssh! Before the River Spirit could finish, Meng Jingzhou plunged headfirst into the river, bubblesrger than himself rising to the surface. Whats happening? The River Spirit was baffled, encountering such a situation for the first time. The bubbling gradually subsided until the river surface was eerily calm, only the ripples caused by the River Spirits aura remained. Is there no movement? He didnt drown, did he? mumbled the River Spirit, not overly concerned about Meng Jingzhou actually drowning, as this was an illusion where drowning was impossible. Before the River Spirit could figure out Meng Jingzhous intentions, another change urred! The ripples on the rivers surface became more frequent. The River Spirit frowned slightly, his power well-controlled, unlikely to be causing this disturbance. He realized, Its that kid who jumped into the river! Golden auras intermingled in the stream, the mist on the waters surface hinting at an immense and terrifying power brewing beneath. An unknown, immense terror caused palpitations! Three fountains erupted on the river, growing higher and higher, their pale golden mist enveloping the entire surface, obscuring the River Spirits view of what was happening. A breeze dispersed the golden mist. Three figures appeared, all resembling Meng Jingzhou, but their auras were worlds apartpared to before. The River Spirit trembled, a primal reaction from deep within his soul! Ordinary Meng Jingzhou, a powerful cultivator Meng Jingzhou, and a celestial Meng Jingzhou! This was the fundamental rule of the illusion: anything that falls into the river undergoes mundane, spiritual, and celestial transformations. Just bring it here, the three Meng Jingzhous said in unison, each iming their respective axe. With the celestial Meng Jingzhou present, the River Spirit had no power to resist, letting him take control. The celestial Meng Jingzhou imed the Sky Opening Axe, the powerful cultivator Meng Jingzhou took the Mountain Splitting Axe, and the ordinary Meng Jingzhou, seizing the moment, took the worn-out axe. With all three axes in hand, the illusion shattered, and Meng Jingzhou passed the test. Those who passed the second test fell into a temporary unconsciousness, a natural protective mechanism of the body. The Dao Seeking Sect members observed Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, who had passed the second test, in silence. What happened to the honest men they were supposed to be? Yun Zhi remained silent, feeling a premonition that admitting these two into the Dao Seeking Sect would mean endless troubles for the sect. She hoped her intuition was wrong. The real River Spirit appeared, holding two gold and silver axes, furiously charging towards Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. As a guardian spirit of the Dao Seeking Sect, he had never faced such humiliation. Nobody stop me! I must teach these two brats a lesson today. Ill break their arms and legs, then reattach them! Dao Seeking Sect disciples hurried to restrain the enraged River Spirit. River Spirit, please dont chop! River Spirit, calm your anger. If something happens to the candidates, our sects reputation will be tarnished! Eventually, Dai Bufan stepped in to calm the raging River Spirit. Rest assured, River Spirit. The third test is my personal design. It will certainly teach them a lesson. Convinced by Dai Bufans solemn promise, the River Spirit finally relented. The third test, being the final challenge, had two proposals: a milder one from Yun Zhi and a harsher one from Dai Bufan, both designed to test the Dao heart. After voting, the group decided on Yun Zhis n. Yun Zhis n was too gentle, offering no punishment even for failure. To appease the River Spirits anger, they had to opt for Dai Bufans n. Yun Zhi had no objections. Letting these two youngsters suffer a bit seemed fair. The second test weeded out many, as the temptation of the three axes led many to follow their desires, lying to the River Spirit about dropping the Sky Opening Axe and Mountain Splitting Axe. Those who failed and left the illusionined about the Dao Seeking Sects second test being too difficult. However, not everyoneined; those who passed the second test didnt grumble. The second test was quite simple, Barbarian Bone remarked, Just tell the truth. Those waiting for the third test nodded in agreement, echoing Barbarian Bones sentiment. What? It wasnt about jumping into the river and snatching the axes from the River Spirit? Meng Jingzhou eximed, puzzled why others methods differed from his. Lu Yang gave Meng Jingzhou a disdainful look, thinking him foolish , If the River Spirit were real and not an illusion, wouldnt you have provoked him? You shouldve done like me, asked for the River Spirits axes, thrown them into the river, and then all three would count as ours. Meng Jingzhou had an epiphany, Youre smarter. The others silently observed Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, summarizing their experiences, beginning to doubt if their method of passing was incorrect. Barbarian Bone nodded slightly, remembering his fathers words that the ancient barbarian lineage nearly perished due to their arrogance and ignorance. As a descendant, he must ovee this w and humbly learn from others. Barbarian Bone felt he had found his role models. As everyone discussed the correct way to pass, Yun Zhi and Dai Bufan, along with other Dao Seeking Sect disciples, appeared. Dai Bufans lips curled into a mischievous smile. With a flip of his palm, a small mountain appeared, growing rapidly in the wind. In just a few breaths, it reached a hundred feet tall. The crowd gasped in awe at this rarely seen feat among cultivators. The mountain, lush with trees, was indistinguishable from a real one,plete with a long staircase leading to the summit. This is the Heart-Seeking Mountain, a wonder crafted by an elder at my request. On this mountain, immortals and mortals are equal. Your task is to climb the Heart-Seeking Mountain. The higher you climb, the firmer your will is shown to be. Climb to the fiftieth step to pass. Someone questioned, But doesnt that give Barbarian Bone an advantage? At fifteen, Barbarian Bones physique was like that of a twenty-five or twenty-six-year-old, towering over others. Climbing the mountain would indeed be easier for him. Dai Bufan assured with a smile, Dont worry about that. Heart-Seeking Mountain will level everyones physical abilities. Whether a mortal or a cultivator, everyone will be ordinary here. Is there a time limit? another questioned. No. The crowd rejoiced, no time limit meant endless attempts. How could they not pass the third test? Was it just a formality? Can we use magic treasures? They had special treasures from their families, usable without spiritual energy, a significant advantage. Dai Bufan grinned somewhat maliciously, Yes. If their magic treasures still work, that is. (End of the chapter) Chapter 5: I Think the Third Test is About Wisdom Chapter 5: I Think the Third Test is About Wisdom Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Everyone approached the Heart-Seeking Mountain, feeling no different except for Barbarian Bone, who distinctly felt his strength diminishing, his physical standards aligning with the others. His boiling ancient barbarian blood calmed, no longer providing him with endless power. Everyone looked at each other and then at Barbarian Bone, the strongest among them. Ill go first, Barbarian Bone said, seeing everyones gaze on him, and stepped forward as the first to climb. One step, two steps, three steps ten steps. The first ten steps were easy for Barbarian Bone, but from the eleventh step, the pressure started to build, feeling like he was carrying a stone b on his back that grew heavier with each step. However, it was still bearable. He continued to climb. After reaching the twentieth step, Barbarian Bones pace became increasingly difficult, his steps slowing down. By the twenty-ninth step, sweat soaked through his clothes, forcing him to stop and rest, gasping for breath. Even sitting down feels heavy, Barbarian Bone muttered to himself, too tired to speak further. Now, instead of standing with the b, he was sitting with it, and his recovery was slow. Seeing Barbarian Bone struggle so much, everyone realized the difficulty of the mountain and became apprehensive. Someone solemnly said, I heard from an elder about ces like this. Heart-Seeking Mountain tests ones desire for the Dao. The purer the heart and the firmer the will, the purer the desire for the Dao. Barbarian Bone, from the ancient barbarian lineage known for their straightforwardness, is struggling so much. It will likely be even harder for us! Would a meditation mantra help calm the mind? another person suggested. The test just needed them to reach the fiftieth step. It didnt require them to be among the first few to pass, they were not inpetition. Everyone agreed, finding it a good idea. Most had been taught simr mantras by their elders for cultivation and self-discipline. Lu Yang opened his mouth, but he didnt know any meditation mantras. Do you want me to teach you a mantra? Meng Jingzhou offered. Lu Yang shook his head, No need yet. Ill think of another way. Meng Jingzhou respected his decision and didnt insist. Meng Jingzhou awoke from meditation, feeling an unprecedented calmness in his heart. The meditation mantra worked! He had meditated longer than others. When he awoke, others were already at the twenty to thirty steps, sweating profusely and struggling to move forward. Sweat dripped down faces, leaving them without the strength to even wipe it away. Someone tried a different approach, thinking the pressure only applied to the steps, and attempted to bypass the stairs through the adjacent terrain. However, they discovered the entire mountain was the same, the higher they went, the greater the pressure. Others attempted to use magic treasures, only to find them powerless, unable to even activate, rendering them useless. No wonder Dai Bufan wasnt concerned about them using magic treasures. Lu Yang, trailing behind everyone, was the most conspicuous. Barefoot and squatting on the tenth step, he appeared deep in thought, as if observing something. What are you doing? Everyone else has climbed much higher, Meng Jingzhou asked curiously. Lu Yang remained silent, holding a shoe in his hand. He threw the shoe onto the eleventh step, Pick it up and try. Meng Jingzhou, not understanding Lu Yangs intent,plied and noticed the shoe was heavier than usual, as if something was pulling it down. Meng Jingzhou seemed to understand something and threw the shoe to the twelfth step, finding it heavier than on the eleventh. Did you discover a pattern? Meng Jingzhou frowned, Objects dont feel pressure until they touch the ground. Its only when they make contact that they experience additional weight? Exactly, Lu Yang punched his palm, pleased to find someone who thought like him. Meng Jingzhou quickly grasped Lu Yangs idea, The steps are nted, and there are so many trees here. We can build a 7-shapeddder, one end buried in the ground and the other leading directly to the fiftieth step. Lu Yang confidently said, Right, this third test is about testing our wisdom. Thats the correct answer! Meng Jingzhou understood Lu Yangs n and soon posed another question, How do we cut the trees? They had no axes or saws to make adder. Do you have any sharp magic treasures? Lu Yang had anticipated this problem. He had considered coborating with others, but no one else grasped his idea. Meng Jingzhou produced a dagger, This was given by an elder for self-defense. It can be activated by thought and is as fast as a Golden Core cultivator, but it can t fly here on Heart-Seeking Mountain. No problem, as long as its sharp, Lu Yang said, knowing that even if Meng familys treasures couldnt be activated, their sharpness surpassed any mundane axe or saw. Perfect for cutting trees. Come see, Ive already designed the blueprint while you were meditating. Lu Yang led Meng Jingzhou to a patch of soft sand, where he had drawn the blueprint for the 7-shapeddder. After a brief discussion, they started their task. The Meng family dagger was indeed sharp, cutting through thick trees like paper. They quickly shaped the wood into unique boards. The trees growing within Heart-Seeking Mountain, where cultivators and mortals were equal, were ordinary. Soon, Meng Jingzhou noticed another issue. How do we join these two boards? We dont have nails, and even if we did, they wouldnt hold these thick boards together. Have you heard of mortise and tenon joints? No. Lu Yang sighed, took the dagger, and began shaping the joints while exining this earthly wisdom to Meng Jingzhou. This protruding part is the mortise, and this recessed part is the tenon. Together, they form a mortise and tenon joint. Its main feature is strength without needing nails. Meng Jingzhou listened intently, as the Meng family used spiritual energy for forging, unfamiliar with such structures. On the steps, people were exhausted, drenched in sweat, struggling to reach the fiftieth step, hoping to be the first to pass and possibly earn special attention and cultivation from the Dao Seeking Sect. They now understood why there was no time limit: staying too long would leave them too weak to even stand, let alone climb. Meanwhile, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, also drenched in sweat and panting, spent a great deal of effort felling numerous trees. After several trials and errors, they finallypleted thedder. Thedder, with its bizarre shape C thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom, with a curved end C resembled a giant 7 more than adder. The surrounding bare ground, as if gnawed by a giant demon pig, drew secretive nces from Dao Seeking Sect disciples who remembered Dai Bufans pride in his lush Heart-Seeking Mountain. Dai Bufans eye twitched involuntarily, his fist clenched. (End of the chapter) Chapter 6: Senior Brother Dai, You Must Stay Calm Chapter 6: Senior Brother Dai, You Must Stay Calm Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou knelt on the ground, using the dagger to dig holes to bury the base of thedder, then tamped down the soil to firm it up. Lu Yang kicked thedder to test its stability. It didnt budge, instead sending a numbing vibration up his right foot. Not bad, very sturdy. Ill try it first, then you can follow if I seed. Okay, Meng Jingzhou nodded. Lu Yang rubbed his hands together and briskly climbed thedder. When he reached the corner of thedder, parallel to the fiftieth step, he muttered damn under his breath. Forcing himself to look straight ahead and not down, he inched forward like a caterpir. Those on the steps watched Lu Yang approach the fiftieth step, stunned. What they saw was astonishing: a giantdder standing on the ground, with a ny-degree bend, leading straight to the fiftieth step. They had noticed Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou building thedder but hadnt paid much attention. After all, they were struggling to reach the fortieth step themselves and couldnt afford to be distracted by what seemed like a nonsensical endeavor. Barbarian Bone, the fastest climber among them, had reached the forty-ninth step but found the fiftieth step insurmountable. It felt like carrying a mountain, almost crushing him. Then, to his dismay, he watched Lu Yang pass by and reach the fiftieth step. Lu Yang sessfully passed the test, followed by Meng Jingzhou. The first and second to pass were determined. Meanwhile, outside Heart-Seeking Mountain, the Dao Seeking Sect disciples were in a frenzy. You cant stop me! Im going to teach these two a lesson today, I promise not to kill them! Dai Bufan was enraged, his muscles bulging like a bear robbed of its honey. His junior brothers and sisters rushed to calm him down: Senior Brother Dai, you cant do this! Senior Brother Dai, you need to stay calm. If something happens to the participants, our sects reputation will be tarnished! Using force against the weak doesnt look good, Senior Brother Dai! Senior Brother Dai, remember, the third test is about the aspiration for Dao. You mustnt get angry! Hearing thest remark, Dai Bufan calmed down. Right, the third test was about aspiring for the Dao. Getting angry so easily wasnt conducive to future cultivation. Wait, the test is for them, not for me! The Dao Seeking Sect disciples once again descended into chaos. Seeing this, the River Spirit felt somewhat appeased and retreated back into the river, no longer seeking trouble with the two. Perhaps inspired by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhous sessful coboration, other participants shouted and cheered as they finally conquered the fiftieth step. Barbarian Bone was the first, followed by others whom Lu Yang didnt know. They were all those who had been behind Lu Yang, and he was unaware of their special talents. Thest few to pass were familiar Double Spirit Root cultivators. The remaining participants, unable to advance any further, attempted to descend and use thedder created by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, only to find even descending exerted tremendous pressure. Their bodies couldnt move up or down even one step. The third test is over. Those still on the mountain are disqualified, Yun Zhi announced coldly, instructing Dai Bufan to bring the people down. Heart-Seeking Mountains force, which reduced everyone to ordinary human capacity, couldnt be removed, not even by Dai Bufan. To retrieve the people, he had to climb the mountain, enduring its pressure with each step. Dai Bufan red at Lu Yang before beginning his ascent. He climbed effortlessly to the fiftieth step. Those who had just passed the third test, seeing Dai Bufans easepared to their own life-and-death struggle, felt a huge gap. Its not hard to understand. Youre only fourteen or fifteen years old. Even with family support and early exposure to cultivation, its like chasing the moons reflection in water. You cant trulyprehend what the Dao or immortality is. Cultivation is also about cultivating the heart. When your practice matures, climbing Heart-Seeking Mountain will no longer be difficult. Concluding her exnation, Yun Zhi added as an afterthought, Congrattions on bing disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect. Yun Zhi waved her hand, and the bells on her wrist chimed, summoning mist that formed clouds to lift everyone up. Lu Yang, standing on a cloud, watched the ground recede, swallowing nervously, his heart in his throat. Mother, cultivation is thrilling. Yun Zhi, standing on the cloud, addressed her junior brothers and sisters below, Thank you for your hard work today. Once youre done, you can continue with your duties. Her juniors replied in unison, Yes, and then started dismantling and transporting thedder Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had built. Adder on Heart-Seeking Mountain, what an oddity. Lu Yang, unable to open his eyes on the cloud, heard others excitedly admiring the view. Ovee by curiosity, he opened his eyes and was stunned by the sight. A majestic mountain stood in the center of surrounding peaks, reaching into the clouds, steep on all sides like a finely honed celestial sword. Eight mysterious mountains surrounded the central peak, with additionalyers of mountains enclosing these core nine peaks. Theyers of mountains resembled a blooming lotus, captivating and awe-inspiring. A hazy mist enshrouded the nine peaks, adding to their mystique. Yun Zhi exined, The core of the Dao Seeking Sect consists of nine peaks. The central peak, Heavens Gate Peak, is where our sect master resides. The other eight peaks belong to the eight elders, each with their own specialties. ordingly, the functions of these peaks vary. Besides these, other peaks are used for sect trials, extensions of the elders mountains, cultivation grounds for disciples, and dangerous areas where insufficient cultivation means certain death Its too much to exin in a few words. You can explore them gradually. Cultivation values fate. You are free to roam the Dao Seeking Sect, visit peaks, the scripture library, or seek guidance from elder brothers and elders for the next month. After one month, you must choose an elder as your master, provided the elder agrees to ept you as a disciple. Barbarian Bone asked without hesitation, Can we choose only elders, or can we choose the sect master too? You can, but the sect master rarely takes disciples. Your chances are slim. Despite Yun Zhis words, many were still eager to be disciples under the sect master. As one of the five great immortal sects of the Central Continent, the sect masters status and power were unquestionable, a rare match in the cultivation world. Bing a disciple under such a figure had countless visible and hidden benefits. Youll be guided to your respective caves shortly. Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, stay behind. (End of the chapter) Chapter 7: The Humble Elders Chapter 7: The Humble Elders Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After everyone left, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou anxiously stared at their toes, fearing Yun Zhi would reproach them for their intent to cheat. It was only after a long pause that Yun Zhi finally spoke. I didnt expect both of you to pass the tests and be disciples of our Dao Seeking Sect. Both of you ranked high in all three tests, especially the third, where one of you was first and the other second. Overall, you have the best results. However, this doesnt mean you were the best performers in this batch. Behind you are others like Barbarian Bone from the ancient barbarian lineage, Peach Blossom Leaf with the Feathery Immortal Body, and Li Haoran with the Fire Spirit Root, who are no less talented than you. Meng Jingzhou, brimming with confidence, nudged Lu Yang, The Feathery Immortal Body is rarer than the Pure Yang Spirit Root, yet the senior sister said behind us, showing her high regard for us. Lu Yang helplessly exined, I think she meant they were physically behind us in line for the first test. Although you performed well, dont be arrogant orcent. In your future cultivation, you must be diligent and humble. Taking Yun Zhis increasingly serious tone to heart, both quickly assured her they would be earnest and diligent in their future practice. Seeing their sincere tone, Yun Zhis expression softened slightly. Since you gave me a ride, Ill grant you an opportunity. you possess the Pure Yang Spirit Root, abundant in qi and blood, a natural nemesis to ghosts and spirits. The third elder among the eight elders is well-versed in this path; you may take him as your master. Meng Jingzhou joyfully thanked her: Thank you, Senior Sister. Lu Yang, you have the Sword Spirit Root, a natural seed of the Sword Path. The best in our sect at the Sword Path is my master, that is, the Sect Leader. You should take him as your master. But Sister, you just said the sect master doesnt usually teach disciples Lu Yang said softly. He noticed that what the senior sister said to Meng Jingzhou was you may take him as your master, but to him, it was you should take him as your master, implying different meanings. Dont worry, I can decide on behalf of the master, said Yun Zhi casually, as if the sect master had no choice but to agree. Im merely suggesting. Like other disciples, you have a month to adapt. After that, you can decide whom to take as your master. Yun Zhi then flew towards Heavens Gate Peak, where the sect master resided. Heavens Gate Peak, Council Hall. A clear water mirror hung in the air, disying the entire process of the three trials under the influence of magic, visible from any direction. The eight shadows of the elders either nodded or shook their heads, praised or scolded, expressing different opinions on the disciples who passed the trials. At the most intense moments, they almost came to blows. There had been precedents before. Among the eight shadows, several were of a temperamental nature, resorting to physical fights when words failed them. What was meant to be a process of evaluating juniors and selecting disciples ended up as a disy of powerful magic battles, much to the amusement of the entire Dao Seeking Sect. For this reason, the true bodies of the eight elders were not present, preventing any actual fights. Barbarian Bone is good, a pure descendant of the ancient barbarian tribe, unbeatable at his level with sheer strength and a simple mind, ideal for my inheritance Its a pity hes too simple-minded. The ancient barbarians perished for this reason. He needs focused training. What do you mean suitable for your inheritance? My lineage in weapon forging hascked a suitable sessor for a long time. Barbarian Bone is dedicated, which makes him ideal for my teachings! The two elders almost came to blows as they argued, but instead continued ring at each other with rolled-up sleeves. The other elders ignored these two and continued: The Feathery Immortal Body, immune to allws, pure and unparalleled, a rare sight indeed. Its been ages since west saw one, back when we first joined the Dao Seeking Sect. Its unfortunate that thest person with this body was too impatient in cultivation and perished before making a name for themselves in the Central Continent. Sixth Elder, youre the most familiar with such physiques. Perhaps this girl is fated to be your disciple. Fire Spirit Root Li Haoran is a promising candidate for alchemy and weapon forging, but hes too impetuous and restless. In the third challenge, he was eager to surpass Man Gu, exhausting his energy too soon. Eventually, he was overtaken by others, bing thest to pass. As for the young one from the Meng family and Lu Yang, with their Pure Yang and Sword Spirit Roots, they are exceptional talents. Their unique way of passing the tests is admirable. Such talents Elder Brother, why dont you take them under your wing? Youre right. You only have Dai Bufan as a disciple, and hes already independent. Taking two more geniuses would add another great story to your legacy. Get lost! Youre just shirking responsibility. With their methods, taking them in means no peace for the rest of my life. I just want a quiet retirement as an elder. Dont bring me trouble! Second Elder, will you take them? Do you believe Ill take you first? The eight elders were extremely humble, showing no eagerness to take in these two Single Spirit Root talents. Damn it, whoever takes them wont have a peaceful life. Look, Yun Zhi is suggesting one to be the sect masters disciple and the other to be the Third Elders. What do you think? The focus shifted to the Third Elder, who sighed in resignation. Yun Zhis suggestion was fitting, as he was best suited to train Pure Yang Spirit Roots. Among the eight shadows, Third Elder stood out the most. Although not tall, he was muscr and robust, his vitality as bright as a torch in the dark. He was clearly a physical cultivator. It was said that when he was young, his vitality was so overwhelming that he often went to the spirit fields, pushing aside the ox demons to plow thend himself. Hasnt it been nine years since the sect masterst secluded himself? It seems so. Everyone realized they still had a sect master, whose presence or absence seemed to make little difference. So, how will the Sword Spirit Root be a disciple? As they discussed, a graceful figure approached on a cloud. The mist dissipated, revealing Senior Sister Yun Zhi. Yun Zhi pays her respects to all the elders. The elders quickly stood up to greet her. Now that the Sect Leader was in seclusion, Yun Zhi acted in his stead, managing the entire sect, her status above the eight elders. Yun Zhi knows that each elder has their preferred disciple, but choosing a master is a significant matter. It cannot be forced, so please do not interfere excessively when they choose their masters. The elders agreed, chuckling. Of course, of course. But about the Sword Spirit Root bing the sect masters disciple, is that his wish or yours? Yun Zhis brow furrowed at the mention of the sect master, replying coldly, Does it make a difference? The elders fell silent. Indeed, there was no difference. What a joke, a decision made by you, would the sect master dare to disagree? (End of the chapter) Chapter 8: The Forbidden Book - "The Dragon-Phoenix Transformation" Chapter 8: The Forbidden Book C The Dragon-Phoenix Transformation Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After Yun Zhi left, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, like the other disciples, went to see their own caves. Before that, Lu Yang followed Meng Jingzhou to bring the old horse into the Dao Seeking Sect. Outside the sect, Lu Yang saw many new fellow disciples joyfully informing their families of their eptance into the Dao Seeking Sect. Whether from small families orrge cultivation ns, having someone epted into the Dao Seeking Sect was a matter of great pride and often recorded in the family history. Why hasnt anyone from your familye? Lu Yang asked Meng Jingzhou, knowing from his brief mentions that the Meng family was a long-established cultivation family. Meng Jingzhou replied with some pride, I ran away from home! Lu Yang: What are you so proud about? After bringing the old horse back to his cave, Lu Yang returned to his own. He took out a jade token, given by an unfamiliar senior brother, which was the identity badge of the Dao Seeking Sect disciples. It could prove their identity outside and open their caves among other things. The token, made from spirit stone marrow and engraved with the words Lu Yang, had many functions that Lu Yang could make use of once he officially became a cultivator. cing the token against a stone wall at the entrance of his cave dwelling, the token emitted a faint blue light. It resonated with a slot in the wall, which flickered twice before the stone wall slid open, revealing a luxurious cave dwelling beyond Lu Yangs imagination. As soon as he entered, Lu Yang felt a warm energy nourishing his body. Is this the spiritual energy they talked about? he wondered, surprised that even he, as a mortal, could feel the rich concentration of spiritual energy in the cave. The cave was simply furnished with a table, a meditation cushion, a straw mat, and vast empty space. It was unclear whether this was a reminder for disciples to maintain simplicity or to allow them to decorate as they wished. A piece of paper on the table had instructions on both sides. The front suggested that disciples unfamiliar with cultivation could first learn basic knowledge at Yanchuan Peak or self-study in the Scripture Pavilion. The back was a simple map of the Dao Seeking Sect, showing the main peaks and leaving much space nk. The Dao Seeking Sect, covering a hundred thousand miles, was farrger than Lu Yang had imagined. Lu Yang, unsure what to do for theing month, now had a direction. Exhausted from the days events, Lu Yang yawned and decided to sleep. The rain, the three trials, the attention from Senior Sister Yun Zhi and Second Senior Brother Dai Bufan, and finally bing a disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect had drained him. Dao Seeking Sect doesnt even provide a pillow he muttered before quickly falling asleep, not caring if it wasfortable or not. The next morning, Lu Yang woke up early and headed to the Scripture Pavilion to understand more about the Central Continent. New here? asked a senior brother at the entrance. Yes. The rules of the Scripture Pavilion are simple: First, with your current ess, you can only read books on the first floor. Second, you can only borrow one book at a time. Third, take care of the books. If you damage one, you mustpensate at the original price. I understand, Lu Yang nodded, and the senior brother let him in. The Scripture Pavilion was filled with Dao Seeking Sect disciples engrossed in reading, oblivious to their surroundings. The vast hall was filled with the rustling of pages. The pavilion housed an extensive collection, from basic routines of civilian artists to secret manuals of cultivators and insights into Qi training and foundation building. Lu Yang, overwhelmed by the choices, randomly picked a book wedged in a gap on the shelf, covered in thick dust as if long untouched. Whats this book? He wiped off the dust and read the title: The Dragon-Phoenix Transformation. What a domineering name! Lu Yang eximed softly, feeling an imposing aura from the title alone. He had a brief vision of dragons and phoenixes. Could that have been an illusion? He excitedly opened the first page, wondering if this could be a big opportunity. identally, he cut his finger on the sharp pages, and drops of blood fell on the book. Suddenly, the ancient book emitted a golden light, as if something within was about to break free. Lu Yangs heart pounded uncontrobly as the unexpected event unfolded, beyond his control, unsure whether it was a blessing or a curse. He felt as if a powerful being was watching him, immobilizing him with its gaze. The presence grew clearer, signifying its proximity. Not speaking a word, Lu Yang started to sweat. You Finally, the presence spoke. Here! Lu Yang responded sharply. Youve dirtied the book. The presence frowned, and Lu Yang turned to see it was the senior brother from the entrance. Noticing the blood on the book, the brother looked displeased, having just warned Lu Yang not to damage the books, this little brat actually stained the book with blood. A formation in the Scripture Pavilion alerted the guardians whenever a book was dirtied. What is this book? Ive never seen it before, the senior brother wondered, flipping through the pages, then his face changed dramatically, This this is the legendary forbidden book! Lu Yangs heart leapt, thinking he had stumbled upon an ancient forbidden text containing untold secrets. Brother, whats the issue with this book? Lu Yang asked curiously. The senior brother hesitated, then revealed, This book details the mating process of dragons and phoenixes in explicit detail. Due toints from both dragon and phoenix ns, it wasbeled forbidden. I thought all copies were destroyed, but it seems one was hidden here. In other words, it was an erotic book. Lu Yang was speechless. So much for the grandeur of dragons and phoenixes! He suddenly remembered the rule C if you dirty a book, you pay for it. (End of the chapter) Chapter 9: Central Continent Chapter 9: Central Continent Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Do I need to pay? Lu Yang asked nervously, knowing the most valuable thing he owned was probably his intellect. Pay? The senior brother nced at the book in his hand and then at Lu Yang, his eye twitching sharply. Technically,pensation in spirit stones was required, but this books exposure could draw the wrath of the dragon and phoenix ns from the Monster Realm, possibly leading to a direct conflict in the Central Continent and the Dao Seeking Sect. While the sect wasnt afraid of the two ns and knew that dragons liver and phoenix marrow can nourish ones body, harboring such a book could tarnish its reputation as a righteous sect. Considering this, the senior brother discreetly hid the book in his sleeve, appearing nonchnt. Pay for what? You dirtied a book? I didnt see anything. He decided it was better to dispose of the book outside the pavilion, as destroying it inside would trigger the protective formations. Lu Yang quickly grasped the situation C the senior brother wanted to keep the book for himself. So, as far as they were concerned, nothing had happened. They exchanged a nce as if they both shared a mutual understanding. The forbidden book was a mere episode, and Lu Yang didnt forget his original purpose in the Scripture Pavilion. He finally found the book he was looking for C Treatise on the Land of the Central Continent. Excited, he began to read attentively. The world is home to humans, monsters, ghosts, and more. The Central Continent is a hub for humans, dominated by the Great Xia Dynasty, the only nation there, embodying the human races orthodoxy. Honestly speaking, although my house is near the Dao Seeking Sect, it is considered part of the Great Xia Dynasty. To the east of the continent lies a vast ocean dotted with inds, asionally visited by ancient beasts like Kun Peng. To the west is the Golden Buddha Country, and of infinite purends and numerous temples. To the south lies the Monster Realm, ruled by the dragon and phoenix ns, where cruel and bloodthirsty monsters constantly sh with the Great Xia Dynasty. To the north is the frigid Nortnd, where sparse life endures in the harsh environment, and only the strongest survive. The Central Continent, with its multitude of humans and cultivators, is where many choose to serve in the court or establish sects and schools, including the Dao Seeking Sect and the other four major Immortal Sects, the leaders of righteousness. The book also mentions that each of the five major Immortal Sects likely has a Tribtion Crossing stage powerhouse or possesses equivalent power Could it be that the Sect Leader is such a powerhouse, or is there a hidden elder in my Dao Seeking Sect? Considering he might be apprenticed to such a powerhouse, Lu Yang felt a surge of excitement. He got up to pour a cup of water, using the act to calm his excitement before sitting back down to continue reading. The demonic cultivators, who grow their power by sacrificing lives, are even more dangerous than the monsters. Hiding in dark corners, they dare not reveal themselves due to thebined suppression of the Great Xia Dynasty and the five major Immortal Sects. Apart from demonic cultivators, the book vaguely mentions evil demons, describing them as heartless beings born from the shadows of humanity, advising to steer clear of them. Civilians use gold, silver, and copper as currency, while cultivators use upper, middle, and lower-grade spirit stones. Lu Yang then delved intomon knowledge of the cultivation world, like the criteria for various cultivation stages, the types of magical arts, types of magical beasts, levels of cultivation techniques, and the history of the Central Continent His knowledge, gained from storytellers in teahouses, was insufficient for survival in the cultivation world. Lu Yang, immersed in profound knowledge, only realized he hadnt eaten all day when he felt hunger pangs in the evening. At the Scripture Pavilions entrance, a senior sister had reced the senior brother. Lu Yang respectfully asked, Excuse me, Senior Sister, Im new and unfamiliar with the Dao Seeking Sect. Is there a ce to eat here? The senior sister, startled by Lu Yangs approach and avoiding eye contact due to her shyness, whispered, Youre new? There is a dining hall, but as a senior, I advise against eating there. Lu Yang, puzzled, asked, Why? Is there something wrong with the dining hall? Its located on the Hundred Refinements Peak under the Fifth Elder. Lu Yang was taken aback, as the name didnt sound like a ce for cooking: May I ask what Hundred Refinements Peak is? Fifth Elder specializes in weapon forging, so Hundred Refinements Peak is naturally for that purpose. The dining halls chefs are top-tier weapon forgers. Their buns can break mountains, rice grains can be used as hidden weapons, and their deep-fried dough sticks can even smash steel. Lu Yang was speechless: Why are chefs also weapon forgers? The senior sister exined softly, Consider this, both professions value precise control of heat. Theyre more closely rted than you think. Lu Yang nodded earnestly: Indeed, closer than I thought. Noting Lu Yangs simple attire, the senior sister hesitated, then mentioned: Also, eating at the dining hall requires spirit stones, and you dont seem to have many. Lu Yangs clothes, unlike typical cultivators garments made from materials like heavenly silkworm silk, were simple and patched, clearly indicating his mortal origins. Lu Yang smiled awkwardly, having no spirit stones. Dont feel bad; there are many disciples from mortal backgrounds, she reassured softly. Theres another way to eat. You could visit Pellet Cauldron Peak. They might have discarded Fasting Pills, which you can ask for. Pellet Cauldron Peak has high standards for pills. Discarded ones are just not of high quality but are still safe to consume. But be careful around the Seventh Elder, Senior Brother Wu Ming, Senior Brother Wen Da, Senior Sister Qing Kong, Junior Brother Long Yan just be cautious in general. Lu Yang, puzzled but grateful, thanked her: Im Lu Yang. Thank you, Senior Sister. May I know your name? Im Zhou Lulu. (End of the chapter) Chapter 10: The Air At Pellet Cauldron Peak is Fragrant Chapter 10: The Air At Pellet Cauldron Peak is Fragrant Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After bidding farewell to Zhou Lulu, Lu Yang arrived at Pellet Cauldron Peak, immediately greeted by a rich aroma of medicinal herbs at the mountains base. Truly fitting for Pellet Cauldron Peak, even the air is filled with fragrance. Its just like the legendary blessednds and celestial inds, Lu Yang thought, taking in deep breaths and feeling as if he could ascend to immortality. Junior brother! Dont breathe it in! came a shout from nearby. The person, seeing Lu Yang inhale more deeply, grew even more anxious. Junior Brother, use the Turtle Breathing Technique, oh wait, youre a mortal, then just cover your nose! This smell is from my failed attempt at concocting medicine, releasing toxic fumes These were thest words Lu Yang heard before passing out. What kind of ce is this, even the air is poisonous he muttered, feeling unsteady, as the world seemed to spin around him before he copsed. It was a hard lesson that the pleasantness of a smell doesnt affect whether it is poisonous or not. When Lu Yang woke up, he was startled by arge face looming over him, instantly snapping back to alertness. Junior Brother Lu, youre awake. Does it hurt anymore? the person, identified as Wu Ming by the name on Lu Yangs jade badge, asked with an apologetic smile. Lu Yang blinked, feeling sore all over as if hed been rolled into a ball and then ttened with a rolling pin. He found himself in a pill-concocting room, filled with a strong medicinal scent and much warmer than outside. The room was crowded with shelves of herbs and white porcin bottles, likely containing sessfully concocted pills, and cages ofb mice on the floor. Wu Ming exined, Im Wu Ming. Sorry, Junior Brother, I got lost in thought while concocting and identally turned the pills into poison. But dont worry, Ive never poisoned anyone to death. Wu Ming seemed oddly proud of this fact. Lu Yang, now even more worried, struggled to sit up. He touched the bandage on his head and asked, If I just inhaled toxic fumes, why is there a bandage on my head? Wu Ming sheepishly admitted, I got distracted carrying you and identally dropped you. But dont worry, as long as youre alive, you can be healed here on Pellet Cauldron Peak! My potions are too strong for you, so I specially concocted pills suitable for mortals while you were unconscious. Wu Ming offered two golden pills with three circr patterns, indicating their near-perfect quality. Lu Yang hesitated to take them. Hed just wanted a few Fasting Pills from Pellet Cauldron Peak and hadnt done anything yet, but now he was already bandaged and lying in bed. Seeing Lu Yangs disbelief, Wu Ming fetched ab mouse to demonstrate. The mouse, as if sensing its impending doom, squeaked wildly as Wu Ming picked it up, as if bidding farewell to its family. After consuming the pill, the mouse copsed on the ground, lifeless. Its family wailed miserably, foreseeing his fate. Lu Yang: Wu Ming: It was an ident, all idents. The mouse is small, so a little poison killed it. Itll be different for humans. I know where I went wrong. Just wait, Ill concoct another batch for you. Lu Yang quickly shifted Wu Mings attention: Senior Brother, you said you were lost in thought, causing the distraction. What were you thinking about? Wu Ming, indeed distracted, pondered and said, Pills, pills, the focus is on the word medicine. Pills are naturally meant to cure diseases and save lives, but Fasting Pills arent for the sick, so why are they also considered pills? If Fasting Pills are considered medicine, then pills are not just for healing but also serve as food. If Fasting Pills are not considered medicine, then what are they? Lu Yang thought one would have to bake their brain in a pill furnace for three days and nights toe up with such a question. Speaking of Fasting Pills, the only thing here safe for mortals is these pills. We have strawberry, apple, watermelon vors and more. Do you want some? Theyre not poisonous. Wu Ming offered a handful of colorful jelly beans. Thinking of the eager anticipation of the King of Hell, Lu Yang declined Wu Mings offer. Many people on Pellet Cauldron Peak were practicing concocting Fasting Pills, and any of them would be safer than Wu Ming. Junior Brother, remember toe to me for pill concoction, its free! Wu Ming said enthusiastically as Lu Yang left. Lu Yang hastened his limping steps as he departed. The next day, the Seventh Elder of Pellet Cauldron Peak heard about Lu Yangs ordeal and sent him proper healing pills and a gourd of Fasting Pills, leading to his full recovery. Over the following month, Lu Yang led a fulfilling life, moving between the Scripture Pavilion, Yanchuan Peak, and his cave dwelling. He eagerly absorbed the cultivation knowledge he had never encountered before, like a traveler in a desert discovering a spring, thirsty for every drop. A monthter, everyone, as they had hoped, became disciples under various elders. Meng Jingzhou became a disciple of the Third Elder, Barbarian Bone of the Fourth Elder, Li Haoran with the Fire Spirit Root under the Fifth Elder, and Peach Blossom Leaf with the Feathery Immortal Body under the Sixth Elder This puzzled Lu Yang. He had thought Barbarian Bone, like Meng Jingzhou, would be a disciple of the Third Elder, a famous physical cultivator in the cultivation world, feared for hisbat prowess. Given Barbarian Bones ancient barbarian lineage, he seemed best suited to be taught by the Third Elder. On the other hand, the Fourth Elder was a Confucian cultivator, known for his profound knowledge rather than physical strength. Lu Yang wondered why Barbarian Bone chose him as a master. The Fifth Elder specialized in weapon forging, making him a suitable choice for Li Haoran with his Fire Spirit Root. As for the Sixth Elder, whom Lu Yang had never met, he heard she was a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a physique simr to Peach Blossom Leafs. However, what stood out the most was not Barbarian Bones choice but Lu Yang himself, who became a disciple of the mysterious Sect Leader. Rumor had it that the Sect Leader hadnt taken a disciple in over a hundred years, living a carefree life. The disciples were abuzz with spection, wondering why the Sect Leader, still in seclusion, had epted Lu Yang as a disciple. Under the envious gaze of the others, Lu Yang was led by Senior Sister Yun Zhi to Heavens Gate Peak, the abode of the Sect Leader. (End of the chapter) Chapter 11: Apprenticeship Ceremony Chapter 11: Apprenticeship Ceremony Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii At the summit of Heavens Gate Peak, in the Innate Hall, Lu Yang stood with proper posture, respectfully waiting for his masters arrival. The Innate Hall was serene and spotlessly clean, with thin wisps of incense smoke rising, calming the mind. Lu Yang noticed three memorial tablets in the hall dedicated to Innate Taoist, Guiyuan Celestial, and Hanhai Daojun, three figures of great significance in the Dao Seeking Sect. Twelve thousand years ago, Innate Taoist, an ordinary cultivator, established the Dao Seeking Sect. At that time, he was one among thousands with simr cultivation levels in the Central Continent, so the sect started as a small school. Ten thousand years ago, during times of chaos, the sect produced an extraordinary genius. Although not the top in cultivation talent, he possessed intelligence, made good friends, upheld righteousness, and was blessed with fate. Rising amidst the chaos, he became an unparalleled cultivator known as Guiyuan Celestial. Under Guiyuan Celestial, the Dao Seeking Sect flourished, bing a top school. During its 20,000th anniversary, Guiyuan Celestial and four other top cultivators established the title of the Five Great Immortal Sects, which gained widespread recognition. However, no glorysts forever. Fifty thousand yearster, the sect weakened. The elders were either nearing their lifes end or met untimely deaths, leaving few capable of leading. Even the disciples wereckluster, leading to rumors of the sects fall from the Five Great Immortal Sects. Perhaps blessed with fortune, an elder of the sect rescued a child from ruins while exterminating demons. Astonishingly, the child was a rare cultivation prodigy. He quickly advanced to be the strongest Tribtion Crossing cultivator of his time. Known as Hanhai Daojun, the Rejuvenator of the Dao Seeking Sect, he extended the sects glory for another fifty thousand years. Senior Sister, where is our master? Lu Yang asked, having waited in the hall for quite a while without seeing anyone besides Senior Sister Yun Zhi. Master is currently in closed-door cultivation, at a critical stage and cannot be disturbed. I will act as his representative to ept you as a disciple and guide you in cultivation. Before you officially begin cultivation, let me briefly introduce our lineage. Our master has very few rules. As long as you dont go too far or act against morality, causing public outrage, he wont intervene. But Im a bit stricter than him, so Ill oversee things he wouldnt. Master has four disciples, including you and me. The other senior brother and sister, one in the Western Golden Buddhist Kingdom and the other in the Southern Monster Realm, rarely return to the sect, making them hard to meet. When your cultivation reaches a certain level, you might meet them on your travels. For now Yun Zhi paused, then took out three ink portraits, lining them up. They were of Lu Yangs unseen master, second senior brother, and third senior sister. The portraits depicted the three happily smiling. The master, with white hair, had clear eyes unlike typical elders, resembling a transcendent being who enjoyed the pleasures of life. The second senior brother had a gentle smile, handsome features, and a demeanor like polished jade. The third senior sister exuded charm, a beauty capable of bringing disaster to a nation. Master specially arranged these portraits, adding you to make five disciples in total. Since only you and I are present, it feels rather lonely. Hence, he prepared these portraits to represent them. Lu Yang looked at Senior Sister Yun Zhi, then at the lifelike portraits seemingly watching him, feeling a chill down his spine. It was as if his master and other disciples had died for the sect and only he and Senior Sister Yun Zhi were the only ones remaining. Three incense sticks appeared before Lu Yang, handed to him by Yun Zhi. These are Faith Incense sticks, capable of conveying your thoughts. Offer them to the masters portrait to express your gratitude and respect. After lighting the incense sticks, Lu Yang ced them in a small incense burner in front of the masters portrait. Ancestors bear witness, Master above, please ept your disciples bow. The scene now felt moreplete. After the ceremony, Lu Yang hesitantly asked, Senior Sister, I dont mean any disrespect, but is our master really still alive? Lu Yang was apprehensive that Yun Zhi might reveal a cold smile and say something like, The Master has perished, and the high-ranking members are keeping it secret. Now that you know this, you cannot be spared. However, Yun Zhi looked puzzled, not understanding why Lu Yang would ask such a question. Of course, hes alive. Ive seen your test results at Yanchuan Peak. You remember human acupuncture points and meridian locations very urately, and you can recite the basic heart method by heart. Thatsmendable. Now, lets start your formal cultivation. Hearing this, Lu Yangs face lit up with excitement, listening even more attentively. He was finally about to start his cultivation practice. As formal cultivation began, Senior Sister Yun Zhi said, This is my first time teaching a disciple, and you are a first-time disciple. Lets bear with each other. But dont worry too much. Ive made ample preparations for today. Yun Zhi lined up various small medicine jars, eachbeled with the name of a pill, some of which Lu Yang had heard of: The White Bone Pill, capable of reviving the dead and mending broken bones. The Seventh Level Pagoda Pill, invented by the Buddha Country as part of a series to umte merits for creating things, saving a life is considered more meritorious than building a seven-level pagoda. Anyone who consumes this pill contributes to the merits of the Buddha Country. The Nine Turns Reincarnation Pill, known in the cultivation world for the saying nine deaths and one life in reincarnation. With these pills, it would be hard for Lu Yang to die. First, we train the body for Qi practice. Although you havent experienced physical training, well start from scratch. Yun Zhi casually tore through space, taking out tworge water tanks from her storage space. The thud of the tanks hitting the ground gave Lu Yang a bad premonition. Sword cultivation emphasizes sword intent and arm strength. Therefore, we first focus on training arm strength. Ill demonstrate only once, so watch carefully. Yun Zhi stood effortlessly on the edge of one water tank, then grasped the edge of the other tank with one hand, lifting it slightly before letting go. She repeated the process with the other hand, her movements smooth and graceful, a sight to behold. If one disregards the strain on the arms, this method indeed seemed effective for strengthening arm muscles. Once you can do it like this, its good enough, Yun Zhi said nonchntly as she set down the water tank. Lu Yang, swallowing nervously, realized without even trying that the half-human-high water tank could easily fit him inside, get filled with sand and bury him with ease. To spin such arge tank around was a life-threatening challenge. He stepped forward, took a deep breath, and tried to lift the water tank with one hand in a smooth motion. It didnt budge. Then, exerting all his strength with both hands, the tank reluctantly wobbled a bit, acknowledging Lu Yangs earnest effort. (End of the chapter) Chapter 12: Lifting Heavy as Light, Light as Heavy Chapter 12: Lifting Heavy as Light, Light as Heavy Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii This water tank must weigh at least two hundred pounds! Lu Yang thought. Even though he grew up ying in the mountains, climbing trees, swimming in rivers, and catching birds and fish, he couldnt lift such a heavy water tank. Yun Zhi drew a symbol on the water tank, reducing its weight to a level that Lu Yang could just manage to lift with one hand. She brought out a puppet to supervise him. Lets see how it goes after lifting it for a day, she said casually before disappearing into the clouds. Left alone with the puppet, Lu Yang sighed, tied his shirt around his waist, and began the arduous task of lifting the tank. The puppet strictly oversaw the training, pushing Lu Yang to continue lifting the tank whenever he rested, squeezing out every bit of his strength. Whenever his arms were too weak, the puppet would feed him strengthening pills; when they were too sore to move, more pills; and when Lu Yang was too tired to stay awake, yet more pills After a day, Lu Yangs legs trembled, his arms hung limply, and he could no longer feel them. He swayed left and right, his arms swinging like pendulums, before copsing to the ground. The puppet routinely fed him two more pills, but seeing no response, it ended the days training. It fetched a cart, ced Lu Yang on it, covered him with a straw mat, and pushed him back. Smelling the scent of food, Lu Yangs body reacted by salivating, and his consciousness gradually returned. Relieved to finally be able to eat, Lu Yang thought that if it werent for the meal, he would have believed he was being punished in a dungeon formitting heinous crimes, rather than training in an immortal sect. Being a disciple of the Sect Leader, Lu Yang didnt have to worry about food and didnt need to take Fasting Pills every day. He was served various unfamiliar and rare delicacies, silently improving his physique. Lu Yang still couldnt lift his arms, so the puppet had to feed him throughout the meal. After eating, Yun Zhi prepared arge pot of body tempering medicinal bath and instructed Lu Yang to bathe in it. Smelling the strong medicinal aroma in the air, Lu Yang almost fainted. Take this, Yun Zhi handed Lu Yang a hollow reed. Whats this for? You need to soak your entire body in the medicinal bath, including your head. Bite on this reed and use it to breathe while your head is submerged. Lu Yang appreciated Yun Zhis thoughtfulness, even though her methods felt like torture. They were for his benefit, after all. After Yun Zhi left, Lu Yang stripped naked, bit on the reed, and jumped into the wooden tub, only to let out a blood-curdling scream. Senior Sister, are you using boiling water for the bath?! Yun Zhi, back in her courtyard, felt the breeze blowing away the medicinal scent from her body. She pondered what else she might have overlooked in Lu Yangs training. Growing up in a celestial realm and surrounded mostly by cultivators, then dedicating herself to cultivation in the Dao Seeking Sect, she had little experience with mortals. To teach Lu Yang, she had specifically sought out books describing mortal life. While he learned about cultivation, she learned about mortals. However, it was clear that the books on mortals did not mention the appropriate temperature for a mortals bathwater. Hearing Lu Yangs hoarse screams, Yun Zhi pondered for a moment. Realizing it was toote to cool down the water now, she took out a bottle of burn ointment, ced it at the door, and knocked. Junior Brother, Ive left the burn ointment at the door for you. Remember to use it. Time passed, and after relentless training, nourishment from spirit beast meat, and special medicinal baths, Lu Yang transformed from an ordinary mortal with burns and peeling skin into an exceptional civilian artist, adept at juggling heavy water tanks. He tossed three two-hundred-pound water tanks effortlessly, creating arcs in the air. He could also step on the edges of the tanks, walking in Eight Trigrams steps as if on t ground. He even stood on a rolling tank as steady as Mount Tai, juggling three other tanks with ease. This skill alone could draw rounds of apuse in the streets. (TL Note: Eight Trigrams steps is a footwork technique https://.internrtsinternational/member/mastering-ba-gua-footwork-linear-mud-stepping-ba-gua-video-lesson-with-tom-bisio/) Not bad, your body tempering progress is even faster than I anticipated, Yun Zhi apuded lightly, boosting Lu Yangs confidence significantly. Although Yun Zhi rarely appeared, she always kept a close eye on Lu Yangs progress. Can I start cultivating now? Lu Yang asked eagerly, cing the tanks down and waiting quietly for the answer without even gasping for breath. During his body tempering period, Meng Jingzhou and others from his cohort had visited him, only to be chased away by the puppet. He heard that Meng Jingzhou, Barbarian Bone, and others had already begun cultivating, elevating themselves above the mundane world, while he was still toiling away at body tempering. This made him somewhat anxious, feeling left behind and struggling with a sense of inferiority. Yun Zhi didnt respond but took out a piece of tofu from her storage space. The tofu was extremely soft, trembling in her fair hands like a water-filled balloon. Hold it with your palm facing down. Lu Yang, thinking it was easy,plied and grasped the tofu. But the moment his fingers moved slightly, the tofu crumbled and fell to the ground. Yun Zhi handed him another piece of tofu, signaling him to continue. Lu Yang, refusing to believe it was impossible, thought the first time was an ident and that he would seed the second time. However, the tofu still crumbled and couldnt be held. After failing the third time, Lu Yang realized the issue. His strength was too great, barely controble. Everything around him was made for cultivators, but if he were to use ordinary objects, hed have to be extremely careful not to break chopsticks or crush bowls while eating. His strength had grown too quickly, and his mind hadnt caught up with his bodys speed, causing his fingers to spasm asionally. Holding a piece of tofu as soft as water was not as easy as it seemed. Yun Zhi stopped handing him tofu. With a downward gesture, she held the tofu and shook it gently. Despite the shaking, the tofu remained intact. Suddenly, she let go of the tofu, and as it fell, she caught it again with incredible speed! Lu Yang watched in awe, wondering how one could catch falling tofu without destroying it. Under Yun Zhis control, the soft tofu was as easy to handle as a piece of iron, freely manipted. Youve mastered lifting heavy as if its light, but lifting light as if its heavy is still far beyond your reach. Lu Yang remained silent, aware that he was far frompleting his body tempering. Cultivation couldnt be rushed. Meng Jingzhou and the others had been trained by their families from a young age, allowing them to start cultivating directly. Catching up with them wouldnt be easy. He had grown up without guidance, but now, with direct instruction from Yun Zhi and the aid of heavenly materials and treasures, his progress was already astonishing. What reason did he have to be dissatisfied? Lu Yang remembered Yun Zhis words, saying that cultivation was a lifelong journey. Temporary advantages or disadvantages didnt matter; what counted was whosted till the end. Taking a deep breath, Lu Yang adjusted his mindset, no longer obsessing over his cultivation progress. Then he saw Yun Zhi instructing the puppet to push over a cart full of tofu. (End of the chapter) Chapter 13: Drawing Breath into the Body Chapter 13: Drawing Breath into the Body Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Unlike training for strength, where Lu Yang could eat spirit beast meat to enhance his power and soak in medicinal baths to strengthen his physique, honing his control required reliance solely on himself. This process demandedplete focus, without the slightest carelessness. As Senior Sister had put it, he needed to find the right feeling, using the body to control the power, not the mind. Lu Yangs task was to naturally grasp the tofu without any intentional effort. By the end of the day, he was covered in the smell of tofu, and his eyes, due to prolonged concentration on the tofu, nearly turned into cross-eyes. Fortunately, the experienced puppet gave him a couple of ps, and his eyes returned to normal. At mealtime, Lu Yang faced a table full of tofu dishes in silence. Stir-fried tofu, deep-fried tofu, steamed tofu, tofu pudding, soy milk boiled tofu All were made from the tofu he had crushed during the day. Lu Yang learned that the tofu pudding and soy milk were generously provided by kind-hearted vendors. Lu Yang was grateful to his ancestors. He knew that as long as he couldnt control his strength properly, he wouldnt get any other dish to eat. In other words, either he or the tofu had to give in. While tofu is not ordinary and can regte a cultivators five elements bnce, enhance qi, and increase endurance in battle, no one could endure eating tofu every day. Left with no choice, Lu Yang focused on his meal, contemting how to better control his strength the next day. As Lu Yang slept, he felt a dazzling white light shining on his face, making his eyelids tightly shut and his expression contorted. Slowly adjusting to the bright light, he tried to open his eyes. He found himself in a pristine white space, surrounded by thick fog, with only a small area around him clear and visible. Lu Yang couldnt locate the source of the light. Where am I? Lu Yang panicked slightly. He was sleeping in the Dao Seeking Sect, a ce teeming with masters, with Senior Sister right next door. Who could have silently brought him to this mysterious space? Were their intentions good or evil? A majestic voice echoed from the mist, ancient and resonant, reverberating through the corridors of time, Young one, this is a temporary space Ive created, undetectable to others. Lu Yang shuddered, the prowess of this being was beyondprehension. He could only hope that their intentions were not malevolent. I have witnessed eons, seen countless mighty beings whose cultivation dominated the world, yet all ultimately sumbed to the ravages of time, their vigorous battles against the heavens reduced to a sigh in their final moments. Regardless of their brilliance, I have remained free and untroubled, eternally existing. The voice carried an ancient and hoarse tone, tinged with the weariness of endless eons. This great beings existence was beyond Lu Yangs imagination. Today, on a whim, I calcted and found that you and I are fated. So, I summoned your soul to this temporary space of inheritance. This space contains everything needed for cultivation from the Qi Refining Stage to the Tribtion Crossing Stage C techniques, pills, secret manuals, and cultivation insights. You will unlock a part of my inheritance at each stage. Lu Yang sighed in relief, sensing the beings friendliness, and respectfully inquired, May I know who you are, Senior? The seniorughed heartily three times and approached from the mist. The seniors face was clean and fair, skin milky white, head squarely shapedit was a tofu. As the Tofu Senior approached, speaking more and more rapidly, he said, I am the Tofu Celestial, and this is my lifes wisdom. The more tofu you eat, the faster your cultivation will rise, with a solid foundation. Surpassing levels, attracting admirers, reaching the pinnacle of the continent will be no problem Lu Yang broke into a cold sweat, abruptly waking up, sitting up in bed, and looking around in the pitch darkness, a dead silence surrounding him. He sighed in relief. It was just a dream, thankfully. Lu Yang, feeling the cold sweat on his back, was still shaken. Yun Zhi slowly opened her eyes, withdrawing a blue light from her fingertips that had been directed towards Lu Yangs room. This should motivate him to cultivate more diligently, she murmured to herself. Her master had taught her that appropriate pressure could be a driving force, spurring people to strive harder. Yun Zhi herself was a testament to this, so she believed her masters words and used a dream spell to give Lu Yang a little pressure. The lines provided by the Eighth Elder are a bit embarrassing, I wonder how he manages to say them normally. Yun Zhi was good at seeking advice. Everything in the dream, every step, and every line, was scripted by the Eighth Elder, who also guaranteed its effectiveness. Some time passed, and Yun Zhi saw Lu Yang effortlessly catching tofu, tossing it high, and catching it steadily. He even used tofu as a sandbag, tossing it back and forth with the puppet. The soft tofu seemed like an extension of his body, easily controlled. Lifting light as if its heavy, youve achieved it. This stage isplete. Lu Yang smiled, no longer the same person he was at the beginning. As he continued practicing with the tofu, his restless heart also gradually calmed down. Without needing any mantras or techniques, he could do this. Whats next? Lu Yang no longer pursued the same progress as his peers, trusting that his Senior Sister had a reason for her arrangements. Yun Zhi rarely smiled, but now she did, Well solidify your Qi Refining Stage cultivation. Lu Yang, surprised, pointed to himself, Qi Refining Stage? Me? He didnt know when he had be a Qi Refining Stage cultivator. The books said that drawing breath into the body required guidance from a senior, imparting techniques, closing the senses, and organizing the meridians to seed. For those with less talent, even medicinal pills were needed. He hadnt met any of these conditions. Senior Sister hadnt told him how to draw breath into the body, nor imparted any astonishing cultivation techniques. He hadnt closed his senses or used the elusive sixth sense. As for the meridians, he didnt remember organizing them. Dao Seeking Sect disciples didnt need pills to enter the Qi Refining Stage; they were all exceptional talents. If they needed pills for assistance, they might as well leave the sect. Lu Yang believed he wouldnt need pills either, but how had he entered the Qi Refining Stage? Three mornings ago, his Senior Sister hinted. Lu Yang suddenly remembered that morning. He woke up early, facing the morning light with closed eyes, pondering how to grasp the tofu. As he delved deeper into his thoughts, he gradually lost awareness of his surroundings, bing like a rising stream of clear qi, wandering between heaven and earth. Then his consciousness sank, returning to his body, feeling a warm breath flowing in his dantian. That was also when he first sessfully grasped the tofu. He remembered that his Senior Sister wasnt present during his tofu practice; she had been observing him from somewhere unknown. It seems that feeling was drawing breath into the body, Lu Yang muttered, immersed in the experience. That feeling was truly wonderful, like being wrapped in warmth on a cloud, toofortable to want to open his eyes. Unknowingly, he had fulfilled his little wish, drawn breath into his body, and be a Qi Refining Stage cultivator. (End of the chapter) Chapter 14: Senior Sister is Right Chapter 14: Senior Sister is Right Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii In the cultivation world, 99% of cultivators are at the Qi Refining Stage. Thus, this stage is meticulously divided into nine levels, unlike theter stages which are categorized into early, middle, andte phases. However, in the Dao Seeking Sect, the Qi Refining Stage is just an entry-level threshold, so theres no need to divide it further. The Sect only recognizes the Qi Refining Stage, without any sub-levels. Do others also enter the Qi Refining Stage in this way? Lu Yang was curious, wondering why his progress seemed the slowest. Yun Zhi shook her head, Your method is the original way of cultivation from ancient times. Ancient people sensed nature, achieved unity with heaven and man, and drew spiritual energy into their bodies, instantly bing cultivators. The earliest form of cultivation naturally didnt require guidance from a senior or any secret techniques. It was all about constant understanding and learning from the bodys responses. As for the meridians, during your medicinal baths, your meridians were fully opened, allowing the spiritual energy to flow unobstructed. In your state of unity with heaven and man, the energy flows in the pathways most suitable for you, surpassing any level of cultivation technique. In the cultivation world, techniques are often categorized into five levels: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Immortal. However, for Yun Zhi, there were only two types of techniques C those suitable for oneself and those not. Every technique, when first created, wasnt specifically designed for you. There are many techniques suitable for the Sword Spirit Root, and I have a box full of them, but none are suitable for you. Starting today, I assign you a long-term task: to create your own technique. Yun Zhis instruction for Lu Yang to create his own technique didnt mean he had to figure it out alone; she would guide him. Still, the difficulty of this task was evident. Creating techniques was something only the esteemed elders in the cultivation world could achieve. Lu Yang twitched his mouth, The predecessors who created techniques stood in high positions, having an overarching understanding of various realms. Ive just entered the Qi Refining Stage, and creating a technique seems a bit too Yun Zhi interrupted Lu Yangsints, Creating a technique isnt as difficult as you imagine. Do you know about the Dao Seeking Sects rule that after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, each disciple mustplete tasks issued by the mission hall to fulfill their duty to the righteous path? Lu Yang nodded, having heard about it. Other sects have simr mechanisms, requiring disciples toplete tasks. After all, the sect doesnt support idlers; contributions to the sect reflect ones value. But the five great immortal sects are different. They ask their disciples to issue tasks, not for the sects benefit, but for the righteous path. One ordinary task involves going down the mountain to y demons and ghosts. I dont like the mortal worlds aura, so I chose another way toplete the task. What is it? Theres a fixed task in the mission hall to duplicate a technique not recorded by the Dao Seeking Sect, which also counts aspleting a task. So, Senior Sister, you Lu Yang had a bold, almost absurd, idea. To cope withplete the task, I created many techniques and lied that I found them in ancient ruins. Unfortunately, I was exposedter. How were you exposed? Lu Yang asked. ording to my reports, I had explored every ruin. I didnt know which ruin to fabricate next. So you see, creating a technique isnt difficult. Yun Zhi, using her own experience, made a convincing argument. Lu Yang opened his mouth, wanting to say, Senior Sister, I thought you were honest, but you also lie, Senior Sister, your talents are beyond ordinary people, Creating techniques for you is different from fabricating techniques for me. Facing Yun Zhis cold gaze, all his thoughts condensed into one sentence. Senior Sister is right. Although youve be a cultivator, youre still far from being a qualified sword cultivator. Take this book. Yun Zhi handed over an ancient book, made from the skin of a mystical beast,rge, thick, and heavy. Records of the Monster Realm? Lu Yang opened the book, feeling an overwhelming aura, with images of various monsters vividly depicted on the pages, almost hearing their roars beside his ear. This book was definitely priceless! Lu Yang pondered. Sword cultivators need sword intent, but how could he cultivate it just after entering the Qi Refining Stage? Its known that in ancient times, sword cultivators would understand their first sword intent while battling fierce monsters, amidst life-and-death situations, and confronting the ferocious will of these creatures. Thus, the answer for Lu Yang was clear: he needed to visualize the images of monsters,prehend their ferocious will, extract their essence, and condense the myriad forms of monsters into a singr point to realize his own unique sword intent. This method, though difficult, was particrly suitable for someone with the Sword Spirit Root like him. Lu Yang nodded, understanding Senior Sisters intentions. He realized that Yun Zhi had great expectations for him. I understand now, he said, grasping her meaning. Yun Zhi gave him a nce, unsure what he had understood exactly, and then signaled a puppet to bring another cart of tofu. If you understand, thats good. To be a sword cultivator, you need precision. Take this Green Edge sword; your next task is to carve tofu into the shapes of monsters using the swords tip. You can find the images of the monsters in the book. Yun Zhi handed him a sword radiating a cold light, engraved with the words Green Edge on its hilt. Lu Yang: Tofu again? He couldnt help but wonder if his dream from the other night wasnt a nightmare but a premonition, indicating he might be the Tofu Celestial. He quickly dismissed this terrifying thought. Taking the Green Edge sword, he first noticed its lightness. It wasnt that the sword was too light, but rather, it was typically too heavy for cultivators below the third level of Qi Refining to handle. However, Lu Yang, after his water jar training, had grown so strong that he could easily wield it. In fact, he could effortlessly defeat cultivators in the early Qi Refining stages with a single punch. Perhaps due to stepping into the Qi Refining Stage and his innate talent for the sword path, along with mastering the art of control, Lu Yang found using the Green Edge sword very natural. In just over ten days, he was able to carve monsters out of tofu and even sculpted figures of himself and Yun Zhi, as well as the nine lotus-shaped peaks of the Dao Seeking Sect. After mastering this art, Lu Yang could now excel in the kitchen too, eager to move past eating tofu. Completing this stage, Yun Zhi appeared, encouraged him, and then presented him with a sesame seed. Sword cultivators also need to train their eyesight. I will throw this sesame seed into the tofu remains, and you need to find it in the shortest time possible. Lu Yang, overwhelmed, knelt down: Senior Sister, can we try a different method? Yun Zhi watched him pleading quietly, her eyes calm and undisturbed. Oh. (End of the chapter) Chapter 15: The Task Hall Chapter 15: The Task Hall Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Since then, Lu Yangs life has be quite fulfilling. In the early mornings, he would sit at the peak, bask in the morning light, practice his swordsmanship in the forenoon, rest on a tree at noon, spar with puppets in the afternoon, get beaten up, and after dinner, readte into the night,pleting the assignments given by his Senior Sister. A year passed, and Lu Yangs cultivation steadily progressed. Look, isnt that the fourth disciple of the Sect Leader, Lu Yang, the one with the Sword Spirit Root? Inside the Task Hall, Lu Yang, dressed in a white robe, with a spirited gaze and a sword with a red tassel on his waist, caught everyones eye. Anyone would praise him as a young prodigy. Most disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect were acquainted with each other, especially in ces like the Task Hall where seeing an umon face always sparked additional interest. Lu Yang, being the top candidate in the entrance examination, having the Sword Spirit Root, attracting the kind disposition of He Ling and Dai Bufan, and being under the Sect Leaders tutge, had be a shining star among the new generation of disciples. His fame was considerable, even surpassing Peach Blossom Leaf, known for her celestial beauty. Is that Lu Yang, personally trained by the Senior Sister? Oh, indeed it is. I heard he has just recently be a Foundation Building cultivator after a year of joining the sect. Foundation Building, huh? No wonder hese to the Task Hall. Seems like hes ready to undertake tasks to hone his skills. Lu Yang was used to being stared at like a rare animal. The discussions among the brothers were correct. Seven days ago, he sessfully reached the Foundation Building stage. After spending another seven days consolidating his cultivation, he officially left seclusion, following Senior Sisters instruction to get out and explore. In the Task Hall, Lu Yang was amazed by the variety of tasks avable, ranging from ying powerful demons to helping find lost pets. For instance, the task he was looking at required a dual cultivation technique, a legitimate one. Dual cultivation techniquese in two types: legitimate and illegitimate. The legitimate ones involve mutual assistance between a man and a woman, bncing Yin and Yang. As for the illegitimate ones, no further exnation is needed. The task was posted by a fox demon who had registered with the Dao Seeking Sect. Although the sects duty includes subduing demons, they dont blindly kill every demon. Those who are innocent and harbor no ill intentions towards humans are not only spared but also registered and granted legal status. This fox demon, named Su Yan, was one such case. The fox demon named Su Yan was originally amon little fox living deep in the mountains. She was caught in a hunters trap while ying, but fortunately, a disciple from a prestigious family happened to be ying in the mountains and rescued her, thwarting the hunters day ofbor. Later, Su Yan consumed a transformation fruit she found in a hidden cave, awakening thetent bloodline within her body and transforming into a fox demon. Grateful and intent on repaying her debt, Su Yan assumed human form to express her gratitude to the noble familys disciple. The young master, now the head of his family, had seen many beautiful women but nonepared to Su Yan. Naturally, the two got married. But then the problem arose. Fox demons inherently have a seductive aura and uncontrobly absorb Yang energy. During intimate moments, the husband was always the one losing Yang energy. Fortunately, Yang energy can be restored. After their marriage, the couple had to limit their intimate activities, which was not ideal for either of them. Frequent activities led to the husbands increasingly frail condition, risking gossip. To address this, Su Yan hoped to practice a legitimate dual cultivation technique to control her seductive fox nature. This task had been posted for quite a long time without any takers. It wasnt that dual cultivation techniques were rare, but epting the task implied possessing a legitimate technique, which inevitably led others to specte about the existence of an illegitimate version. If fellow disciples asked for it, whether to admit having it and whether to share it became delicate questions. What would the sisters and brothers think? This task seems good, Ill take it, someone behind Lu Yang said. It was Meng Jingzhou, recognized by his voice. He was ideally suited for this task, given his familys status and pure Yang spirit root, making it unlikely he possessed an illegitimate technique. Even if he did, there was nothing he could do with it. Meng Jingzhou had be a Foundation Building cultivator earlier than Lu Yang and this was his third task. Youve reached the Foundation Building too? Meng Jingzhou said with a smile. Both having rare spirit roots, their talents were not far apart. Lu Yangs slightlyter achievement in reaching Foundation Building was somewhat unexpected. Remembering the year of hardship under his Senior Sisters tutge, Lu Yang sighed, Finally, I have reached Foundation Building. We should have a good meal once I finish this task. Ill treat you, Meng Jingzhou offered generously, with plenty of spirit stones to spare. After Meng Jingzhou left, Lu Yang continued browsing the tasks posted on the wall. Evidence of demonic worship suspected in the north. Rmended for Golden Core cultivators and above to investigate. Task reward is 400 contribution points, with additional rewards for extra information uncovered. Daoist Li Hong of Shanhaiguan has lost a pet and requires assistance in finding it. Lu Yang paused, thinking it was a good task as searching for cats and dogs posed no danger, but then he read on. Lost pet: a two-winged ferocious tiger with a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivation. Finder will receive 5,000 contribution points. Lu Yang shrank back. A Mid-Nascent Soul stage demonic beast, especially one with ancient bloodlines like the two-winged tiger, was way out of his league. He quickly moved on to the next task. Unusual spiritual energy fluctuations observed at Kunwu Mountain during the day-night transition. Suspected undiscovered cave heaven. Rmended for Late-Nascent Soul cultivators and above to investigate. Task reward is 8,000 contribution points, with additional rewards for valuable discoveries. Another irrelevant task for Lu Yang. In the outside world, Qi Training cultivators could roam freely as martial artists, and Foundation Building cultivators could dominate small regions, enjoying prosperity for a century. Golden Core cultivators were esteemed enough to establish schools and be called real people. However, in the Dao Seeking Sect, any random person could be at the Golden Core stage. Throwing a brick could hit arge number of them, and ordinary disciples would likely throw it back. The Dao Seeking Sects disciples were all chosen from the best, and before thetest batch of new recruits, including Lu Yang, there were no Qi Training or Foundation Building disciples in the sect. The lowest cultivation level was Golden Core. No matter how well one did outside, upon returning to the Dao Seeking Sect, one had to behave modestly. Therefore, tasks suitable for Foundation Building cultivators were rare. Lu Yang reviewed several tasks, but most required Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivation. He also noticed a special task. Long-term task: Collect unrecorded techniques of the Dao Seeking Sect. Rewards depend on the content of the technique. Note: Senior Sister Yun Zhi, please do not ept this task. A Yun Zhi section has been established in the Scripture Pavilion for her to directly ce her written techniques. (End of the chapter) Chapter 16: Yun Zhi's Talent Chapter 16: Yun Zhis Talent Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yangs fellow disciples also noticed the task, chuckling softly, Every time I see this long-term task, I cant help but recall Senior Sisters illustrious aplishments. Another added, After the truth about Senior Sister fabricating techniques and passing them off as findings from relic caves was exposed, it caused quite a stir. Ive heard from my master about a relic cave in Lingnan, known as Si Shui Cave. The most precious treasure within is a technique left by the caves former master, the Chaos Dawn Technique. It was said that cultivating it to perfection could shatter chaos and discern all truths. However, when someone stumbled upon the real Chaos Dawn Technique in Si Shui Cave andpared it with what Senior Sister had created, it turned out her fabricated version was actually easier to cultivate and yielded far superior results. Subsequently, numerous techniques were discovered in various relic caves. For those sharing the same name, none were as potent as the ones Senior Sister had created. The revtion left the elders in silence for days. Lu Yang: Lu Yang hadnt seen the Yun Zhi section in the Scripture Pavilion himself. Presumably, because the techniques Senior Sister concocted were so extraordinary, they were stored at the highest level of the Scripture Pavilion, off-limits without special authorization C essentially, taboo. Senior Sister is a talent of the ages, possessing the wisdom to measure the heavens and fathom the earth. Its no wonder everyone says its a blessing for her to act on behalf of the Sect Leader while hes in seclusion. Ive even heard rumors that Senior Sister has imprisoned the Sect Leader to usurp his position and be the true Sect Leader herself. Its said she holdspromising information on the eight great elders, and the high-ranking officials dont dare to oppose her. Some im to have heard sobbing from the Sect Leader in a dungeon on Heavens Gate Peak at night! Ha-ha-ha, thats definitely baseless. Such a thing is absolutely impossible. While Lu Yang hadnt heard any alleged sobbing from the Sect Leader on Heavens Gate Peak, he didnt pay much attention to it and continued searching for tasks. Finally, he found one that suited him: ording to residents of Taiping Vige in Quhe County, a bird-like demonic beast that speaks humannguage has been spotted. The specific type is unknown, and no records of it harming people or using demonic arts exist. Requesting a Daoist from the Dao Seeking Sect to resolve this issue with the demonic bird. After pondering for a moment, Lu Yang epted the task. From the description, it seemed like a demonic beast that had mistakenly entered human territory or possibly one that had gained intelligence through a divine encounter. Such beasts wouldnt have cultivation levels beyond the Foundation Building stage, and their aggressiveness was usually low. There was even a chance it was a beast that had grown close to humans, making it perfect for a neer like him. Moreover, the reward offered by the task hall corroborated this. The task rewarded thirty contribution points. It was the minimum reward for a task. Task rewards were calcted by designated personnel in the Dao Seeking Sect and verified by another person to ensure uracy. The lower the reward, the simpler the task. Lu Yang approached the counter, Brother, Id like to take on this task of resolving the issue with the bird-like demonic beast. Id like to take on this task of resolving the issue with the bird-like demonic beast, another voice said, almost simultaneously with Lu Yang. The owner of the voice was a young girl in a light pink dress, with delicate features, fair skin, and an enchanting beauty. Given her sweet appearance and simr cultivation level to Lu Yang, the girls identity was clear. Junior Sister Peach Blossom Leaf , what a coincidence, Lu Yang said with a smile. He had only met Peach Blossom Leaf when he first joined the sect and had rarely seen outsiders in the past year while at Heavens Gate Peak. As the first-ranked disciple in the entrance exam, Lu Yang was the senior brother of this batch until a new ranking was established. In fact, Peach Blossom Leafs choice of task was no coincidence. Suitable tasks for Foundation Building cultivators were already scarce, and those from their batch could only undertake a few. Turns out its Senior Brother Lu, congrattions on reaching Foundation Building. There arent many tasks for our level, so why dont we join forces and share the reward equally? Peach Blossom Leaf suggested sweetly, her curiosity piqued by this reclusive Senior Brother Lu. Lu Yang happily agreed. In the process ofpleting tasks, its not always about the rewards for them; they seek more to gain experience from the process itself. How about traveling to Quhe County on a flying boat? Lu Yang suggested. Junior Sister Peach Blossom Leaf , did you know that our human race is quite contradictory? Often, people both fear and worship the same things. In ancient times, when demons roamed and disasters were frequent, the weak human race struggled for survival in the gaps of existence. Great demons, relying on their ancestral bloodlines, robust physiques, and innate magical powers, dominated the wildnds. Humans feared these great demons, seeing them as natural disasters, unassable. Yet, they also worshiped them, longing for their power. Thus, the ancient ancestors developed cultivation techniques, learning magical powers from demonic beasts. They overcame numerous challenges, eventually standing at the pinnacle of the continent, creating a new world for humanity, and ensuring their continued existence! Take, for example, the elements of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. The ancient ancestors feared them, yet yearned for their natural might and authority, the incontestable will of nature! People longed for them, desiring to possess their mighty power and authority. The ancient ancestors questioned the heavens and the earth, faced thunder and lightning, and sought enlightenment in storms. They understood the principles of man follows earth, earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature, and realized various Daoist techniques! See? This contradictory mentality is essential for humanity to be the dominant race on the continent! And then theres the sky. Humans long for it, wishing to fly freely like birds, but also revere it, finding it mysterious and unfathomable. This sense of awe is ingrained in our blood, an innate mindset of every human, be it evident or hidden On the flying boat, Lu Yang spoke with passion, standing up and gesticting as he spoke. Peach Blossom Leaf, after contemting quietly, interrupted Lu Yangs lengthy discourse. So, is that why youre afraid of heights? Yes. Peach Blossom Leaf: Inside the cabin of the flying boat, cruising among the clouds, the boat was engraved with mass-produced bnce formations by array masters, ensuring passengers inside felt nothing even during storms. The skies were clear and bright, perfect for enjoying the sun and scenery on the deck. Peach Blossom Leaf suggested they go out on deck, but Lu Yang, steadfast in his Dao, adamantly refused. Peach Blossom Leaf, more curious than most, persistently inquired until Lu Yang had no choice but to exin his fear of heights from ancient history. He eloquently linked his fear to historical precedents and various references, suggesting that the fear of heights is a rational and ancient psychology. Broadly speaking, it even contributes to the progress of humanity. Fortunately, Peach Blossom Leaf didnt believe a word. (End of the chapter) Chapter 17: Have You Heard of the Terrestrial Sword Immortal Chapter 17: Have You Heard of the Terrestrial Sword Immortal Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Senior brother Lu, I remember youre a Sword Spirit Root? Peach Blossom Leaf nced at the ancient sword hanging on Lu Yangs waist and the calluses formed from long-term sword practice on his palms. The transformation in just a year was enough proof of Lu Yangs dedication to sword training. Lu Yang nodded modestly, Barely a sword cultivator. Cultivators are categorized based on their specialties, such as Dan (Pill), Fu (Talisman), Array, Body, and Sword cultivators. Among these, sword cultivators possess the strongest offensive power. No one in the same realm wishes to face a sword cultivator in battle. The most famous attribute of sword cultivators is one sword breaks allws C regardless of how profound your techniques are, they can break them with a single sword strike. The counterpart to sword cultivators are technique cultivators, who believe that regardless of your sword skills, they can counter with a myriad of techniques. Sword cultivators are renowned for their moves such as Sword Opens the Heavens and Flying Sword, all legendary sword techniques. Picture a figure in white as snow, standing on a flying sword, slicing through the wind, what a dashing figure it paints! What do cultivators seek? Strength and charisma. Sword cultivators perfectly embody these qualities, making many wish to be one. Unfortunately, without the talent for the sword path, one cannot be a sword cultivator. So, what will you do after mastering the flying sword, Brother Lu? Peach Blossom Leaf had never heard of a sword cultivator who was afraid of heights. Others cultivate to fly and wander freely, but it seems Brother Lu cultivates to stay grounded. With a serious expression, Lu Yang replied, Being a sword immortal doesnt necessarily equate to soaring the skies. Have you, Junior Sister Peach Blossom Leaf, ever heard of a Terrestrial Sword Immortal? Peach Blossom Leaf was momentarily stunned, and seeing Lu Yangs earnestness, the term Terrestrial Sword Immortal seemed familiar, so she nodded along. Who said immortals have to be high and mighty? After all, immortal includes the word mortal. Immortals roam between heaven and earth, can grasp stars and moons, or dive into the deepest abyss, unbound and free. The term Terrestrial Sword Immortal indicates that sword immortals are not just in the heavens but can also traverse thend. A sword strike can behead demons from a thousand miles away! My goal is to be an existence like the Terrestrial Sword Immortal! Peach Blossom Leaf was about to nod along with the atmosphere but then realized the w in the logic: Wait a minute, Ive heard of Terrestrial Immortals, but where does Terrestrial Sword Immortale from? After silently observing Peach Blossom Leaf for three seconds, as if harboring ancient secrets, Lu Yang slowly spoke. I made it up. His sincere attitude left Peach Blossom Leaf speechless. Without further discussion on the topic, Peach Blossom Leafs image of Lu Yang, formed during their three days together, shatteredpletely. At the first test, she witnessed Lu Yang being identified as a Sword Spirit Root. Back then, Lu Yang appeared to her like an upright and indomitable sword, silent but invincible. After the second test, she admired Lu Yangs unique approach to passing and spected his future achievements might be even higher. During the third test, exhausted near the peak of Mount Wenxin, she believed no one could reach the fiftieth step. Thats when she saw Lu Yang reaching the fiftieth step and passing. His sess gave her great confidence, encouraging her to continue climbing and sessfully pass the test. A yearter, she met a high-fearful but talkative Brother Lu. She learned what distance makes the heart grow fonder truly meant. Its about time to disembark. Lu Yang spread a detailed map. It meticulously outlined the Dao Seeking Sect, the Great Xia Dynasty imperial city, famous mountains and rivers, important cities, and blessednds. It was one-eighth of the Central Continent map. A tiny red dot was moving very slowly on the map. If you didnt pay close attention, youd think the dot was stationary. The red dot marked their current location on the map. This wasnt just any ordinary map; it was an essential magical artifact for travel. Despite its sophistication, the map wouldnt detail a ce as small as Taiping Vige; it was impressive enough that it even mentioned Qu River County. The flying boat wouldnt stop at small ces like Qu River County. If it stopped everywhere, it would greatly reduce its speed, making its efficiency barely better than a horse carriage. The boat only stopped at major transport nodes like the Dao Seeking Sect, Qingyun City, Tongtian Valley, Fulong Mountain, and the Imperial City. Lu Yang had heard from his senior sister that to disembark, one simply needed to jump off. This fact made his eyes twitch. Simr to airnes in his previous world, the boat was incredibly fast and prioritized efficiency. The biggest difference was that passengers in his previous world had to wait for the ne tond before disembarking, while in the world of cultivation, passengers could jump off whenever they wanted, highlighting their freedom. This was Lu Yangs first time jumping off the boat, and he was quite excited, though it manifested in trembling legs. After all, it was from a height of ten thousand meters. Do you know how to get off the boat, Brother Lu? Of course, Lu Yang replied confidently, his chest puffed out proudly. He would plummet straight down from ten thousand meters up, and even a cultivator in thete stage of Foundation Building would be reduced to mush upon impact. Lu Yang had asked his senior sister how to disembark. She didnt answer but told him not to consult books or ask others, encouraging him to think independently and develop good habits. And so, Lu Yang had sessfully figured out how to get off the boat and made the necessary preparations. Apart from Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf, seven or eight strangers were also preparing to disembark. They all stood at the edge of the deck in a line. The strangers pulled out standard-issue paper umbres, while Peach Blossom Leaf held a carefully cultivated red paper umbre. Lu Yang, on the other hand, took out a parachute. Hmm? Lu Yang felt somewhat out of ce. Why was everyone elses equipment different from his? Just as he wondered what they were nning to do with their umbres, a ck-clothed middle-aged man holding an umbre jumped off the boat. He plummeted like a cannonball, his speed increasing rapidly. Calmly, he infused spiritual energy into his umbre. The light energy, like a dexterous green snake, coiled around the umbre ribs. The umbre seemed toe to life, awakening from hibernation and stretching out. The middle-aged mans descent slowed, and hended gently and safely. He released the umbre, which turned into a streak of light and returned to the flying boat. The umbres werent personal belongings but were temporarily lent to passengers by the flying boat. The seven or eight strangers and Peach Blossom Leaf turned to look at Lu Yang, even Peach Blossom Leafs eyes filled with puzzlement. They held umbres in preparation to jump off the boat, so what was Lu Yang doing with a backpack? On the surface, Lu Yang was unppable, facing their puzzled looks with a radiant smile, as if he wasnt the odd one out. Internally, however, he was in turmoil, not knowing where to begin his rant. All his thoughts condensed into one sentenceSenior Sister, youve misled me! (End of the chapter) Chapter 18: The Demon Bird Chapter 18: The Demon Bird Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yangs knowledge about the world of cultivation was far fromprehensive. Before joining the Dao Seeking Sect, his knowledge came solely from storytellers. In his year at the sect, his understanding of cultivation grew at an astonishing pace, but his readings didnt cover something as mundane as how to disembark from a flying boat. Who would write about such things? In terms ofmon knowledge about life in the cultivation world, he was less knowledgeable than Peach Blossom Leaf, who had grown up in a cultivator family. His understanding of flying boats was limited. He knew they were part of the assets of the Land of Gold Commerce, and disembarking involved jumping off, but the exact method was unknown to him. The flying boats brought in enormous profits annually, but for the Land of Gold Commerce, this was just a minor part of their business. Thepany, thergest on the Central Continent, had a mysterious backing and countless treasures. With enough spirit stones, one could buy anything, even legendary items like relics from the Buddhas Land, sacred bones from the Demon Territory, or celestial fruits that were normally only heard of in tales. If anyone dared to owe the Land of Gold Commerce or steal from them, the fate of several vanished powerful cultivators served as a warning to the world. Legend spoke of a cultivator known as the King of Thieves, skilled in the way of space, who could effortlessly steal others storage spaces. Distance was meaningless to him, and he could cross thousands of mountains and rivers in a single step. He had even stolen from Tribtion Stage cultivators. There was an unwritten rule among thieves: never steal from the Land of Gold Commerce. The King of Thieves initially adhered to this tradition. However, as his fame grew and many high-profile cultivators failed to capture him, he began to feel invincible and above the old teachings. He arrogantly announced that he would steal a treasure from the Land of Gold Commerce that night. People spected about a silent heist or a fierce battle inside thepany. But, to everyones surprise, nothing happened that night, and the King of Thieves disappeared without a trace. Lu Yangs awkwardnesssted only briefly. When it was time to jump off the boat, the strangers were too busy to keep looking at him. Everyone opened their paper umbres and leaped down, one after another. Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf followed suit. In the sky, several strangers with their umbres looked as tiny as sesame seeds from afar. Lu Yang was different; when he pulled the string on his back, his parachute opened with a pop, standing out conspicuously in the high sky. Normally, Lu Yang would be very nervous at such a high altitude, but at that moment, he had no room for such thoughts. It was just too embarrassing. Fortunately, everyone had different destinations. Only Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf were headed to Taiping Vige. Upon arrival, they were warmly weed by the vige head, who seemed to have been expecting them. Two esteemed immortals, youve finally arrived. The way you descended from the flying boat was truly extraordinary. Lu Yang opened his mouth but ultimately didnt ask why the vige head knew when they would arrive. My name is Lu Yang, and this is Peach Blossom Leaf. Were both disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect. The description of the demon bird in the mission was not very detailed; we would appreciate more information from the vige head. The vige head initially nned a weing feast with drinks and local specialties, amon practice for entertaining officials. However, Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf were all business, much to the vige heads delight and admiration for the discipline of sect disciples. Peach Blossom Leaf observed the vige head, noting histe stage Qi Condensation cultivation level. His early training had been inadequate, leaving impurities in his spiritual energy and making Foundation Establishment unlikely. He was a typical cultivator, nothing extraordinary. The vige heads expression turned troubled when mentioning the demon bird. Taiping Vige was already isted with few outsiders, and the news of the demon bird had scared off even the traveling merchants. He reported the incident to the authorities in Quhe County, but they were short-handed and, seeing that the demon bird hadnt harmed anyone, decided to wait and see, promising to send someone when they could spare the manpower. That was twenty days ago. About twenty days back, tailor Feng made amotion, iming that a man-eating demon had visited their home and it was fearsome, the vige head recounted. The neighbors were rmed upon hearing this. A man-eating demon was no small matter. Taiping Vige had about thirty cultivators in total, and I, as the vige head and the highest in cultivation, was approached by Feng and the neighbors. Before exorcizing the demon, its important to understand the situation. So, I asked Feng, You mentioned a man-eating demon, but who did it eat?'' The danger posed by a demon that had tasted human fleshpared to one that hadnt was significantly different. Humans, being the most spiritually aware of all beings, leave a lingering taste that demons crave, leading them to hunt for more victims, bringing cmity to the region. Feng replied that he didnt know who the demon had eaten but insisted it must have because it spoke humannguage. Indeed, rumors in the mortal realm suggest that demons gain the ability to speak and transform into humans after consuming them, but these are exaggerations. For a demon to speak humannguage, it must refine the hyoid bone in its throat, achievable only at theter stages of Qi Condensation. Feng thought it was just a lost bird from the forest until it perched behind him and watched him sew without moving. Suddenly, it spoke, scaring Feng enough to make him flee his shop. Seeing that Feng couldnt provide any useful information, I decided to approach the demon bird discreetly, leaving the others to wait at a distance. Thats when I saw it. The demon birds feathers were vibrant and glossy, with distinct red around its eyes, clearly no ordinary bird. No ordinary bird would dare unt such striking features. The demon bird asked me, Who are you, and where is Zhang Guanjia? with an urgency in its tone. I was puzzled. Zhang Guanjia is a cultivator from our vige, at the third level of Qi Condensation, nothing outstanding. It was strange to think he had any connection with a demon. I tried to appear non-threatening and politely asked, May I know why the esteemed demon seeks Zhang Guanjia?'' Without answering, the demon bird pped its wings and left the tailors shop. Since then, the demon bird has been flying around Taiping Vige, feasting on crops and speaking humannguage. Although it hasnt harmed anyone, the mere sight of a demon is enough to instill fear in mortals. Consequently, everyone has been living in fear these days, worried that the demon bird might unleash its ferocity and devour us all. Have you fought the demon bird? Whats its strength like? inquired Lu Yang. The vige head shook his head. The demon bird is elusive, always in the sky, making it hard to track. Moreover, I cant gauge its cultivation level, which means its at least at the same level as mine, the seventh level of Qi Condensation. I worry that attacking it recklessly might provoke it unnecessarily, especially if it harbors no ill intentions towards humans. Lu Yang nodded, understanding the vige heads cautious approach. (End of the chapter) Chapter 19: The True Identity of the Demon Bird! Chapter 19: The True Identity of the Demon Bird! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Peach Blossom Leaf asked, Since the demon bird is looking for Zhang Guanjia, have you tried letting them meet each other? The vige head sighed heavily, We didnt need to arrange their meeting. A few days ago, the demon bird directly went to Zhang Guanjias house and shouted Demon! Demon! at him, then flew out of the window, heading to another household. We were at a loss about what to do when you two immortal masters arrived. Peach Blossom Leaf pondered for a moment and guessed, Is Zhang Guanjia a demon? Is the demon bird warning you to be cautious of him? There are indeed benevolent beings among the demon race, who either transform into human forms or reveal their true identities to warn humans of impending disasters. For example, Zhu Yan, the great demon king, is misunderstood in folktales as a harbinger of chaos, but in reality, Zhu Yan came from the demon realm to the Central Continent to warn humanity, purely out of goodwill. Of course, Zhu Yan is also partly responsible for this misconception it suffers from social anxiety and avoids speaking. Given its silent nature and fierce appearance, its hard for people to believe its a benevolent demon. Perhaps this demon bird is doing the same, alerting the people of Taiping Vige that Zhang Guanjia is a transformed great demon. The vige head seemed somewhat embarrassed to contradict the beautiful immortal from the Dao Seeking Sect, but he couldnt disregard the facts and falsely use Zhang Guanjia of being a demon. Zhang Guanjia grew up in Taiping Vige from a young age, and the elders can testify to this. He has two brothers, Zhang Guanyi and Zhang Guanbing, and they share a deep bond. Zhang Guanjia now runs a private school, teaching Confucianism and cultivation to children hes one of the few teachers in Taiping Vige. If hes imed to be a demon, that would be Peach Blossom Leaf disagreed with the vige heads view, Demons are long-lived, and many live for decades in one ce, gradually aging to blend in with humans. When theyve seen enough of the scenery, they fake their death and move to a new ce to start anew. The vige head opened his mouth but didnt know how to respond, as his knowledge was limitedpared to Peach Blossom Leafs. Lu Yang gently shook his head, pointing out a w in Peach Blossom Leafs conjecture, If Zhang Guanjia were a demon, he would have to be a transformed great demon. How could such a being tolerate a minor demon birds nonsense? If the bird had tried to speak, Zhang Guanjia would have likely killed it before it could utter a word. Peach Blossom Leaf didnt argue, as Lu Yangs point made sense. Lu Yang stood up, Nevertheless, we should meet this Zhang Guanjia. The vige head quickly led the way, This way, immortal masters. On the way, Lu Yang corrected the vige heads manner of address, We are all cultivators aiming for immortality. Regardless of our mere Foundation Building stage, even Integrating Soul masters and Tribtion Passers, those closest to immortality, arent entitled to be called immortal masters.'' You may address us as Taoists.'' The vige head offered an apologetic smile. He dared not treat Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf as ordinary Foundation Building cultivators. The chance of a Foundation Building cultivator advancing to the Golden Core stage is less than one in ten, applicable to ordinary cultivators. But Dao Seeking Sect disciples are almost certain to reach the Golden Core stage, with unfathomable future achievements beyond his imagination. This isnt about no one bing an immortal; its just vague legends about immortals. Hearing this, Lu Yang just smiled and didnt say much more. Before long, the three of them arrived at Zhang Guanjias residence. Old Zhang, someones here, open the door. The wooden door creaked open, revealing Zhang Guanjia with a wooden expression, standing behind it. Let me introduce you, these two are disciples from the Dao Seeking Sect, here to help us get rid of the demon bird. Hearing the words Dao Seeking Sect, Zhang Guanjias expression changed. He said helplessly, Im really not a demon. You cant just believe whatever the demon bird says. It also shouted Grandpa,e y. Why dont you send a few grandpas to y with the demon bird? The vige headughed awkwardly, Were just passing by and happened toe to your ce. Despite being a diligent official respected by everyone, Zhang Guanjia could only wee the three inside after the vige heads words. Zhang Guanjias house was a two-entry residence, feeling empty for a single upant. Zhang Guanjia, in his forties, was still unmarried. The conversation inevitably circled back to the demon bird. Zhang Guanjia grumbled, Ive never seen that demon bird before. Who knows why its calling out my name. Ive never left Taiping Vige in my life; the farthest Ive been is to Quhe County. Where would I meet a demon bird? Every day, my students ask me, Teacher, are you a demon? Some are even scared Ill eat them, so theyplete their homework on time! Even my neighbors came to me, saying they have a Foundation Building stage enemy in Quhe County, asking if I could secretly take him down for a negotiable price! Zhang Guanjia spoke through gritted teeth, wishing to have a decisive battle with the demon bird to clear his name. He was just an ordinary person, yet the demon birds mere words had turned him into a demon, which was utterly unreasonable! After a long conversation, the three didnt gather any useful information, just listening to Zhang Guanjiasints about the impact of the demon bird on his life. Thankfully, Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf quickly stated their intention to eliminate the demon bird, to bring justice to Zhang Guanjia, which finally stopped hisints. The demon bird is here again! People outside the house shouted and ran away, keeping their distance from the demon bird. Hearing themotion, Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf immediately put away their yful attitude, grabbed their magical treasures, and left the yard to confront the demon bird. Be careful, Taoists! the vige head advised, asking the vigers to be quiet and stay away from where the demon bird appeared. Lu Yang gripped his sword hilt, ready to draw his sword and split the demon bird in two if it showed any intention of attacking humans. Peach Blossom Leaf took out her red paper umbre, her natal magical treasure, the Thousand Illusions Umbre. As the umbre opened, it created an illusory, dreamlike scene where enemies would drown unknowingly. Lu Yang gestured carefully, signaling that he would scout ahead, to which Peach Blossom Leaf nodded. The demon birdnded on a civilians house. Lu Yang, stealthy as a cat, moved soundlessly, tiptoeing closer to his prey. He was on full alert, muscles tensed, ready to draw his sword for battle at any moment. Optimistically, the demon bird was at the seventh level of Qi cultivation, which would be the best scenario. The worst-case scenario would be a Foundation Buildingte-stage demon, making the battle challenging, and victory would require considerable effort. Finally, he saw the demon bird that had troubled Taiping Vige for twenty days. Its deep green feathers were incredibly vibrant and lustrous. The red patches from its eyes to its neck were striking, contrasting sharply with the green. It was an eye-catching bird. Lu Yang recognized the demon birds origin at a nce. It came from deep within dense jungles, feeding on figs and berries, and was adept at mimicking human speech. It was a parrot. (End of the chapter) Chapter 20: The Shang Family Chapter 20: The Shang Family Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The reality proved that not every talking creature is a demon beast; it might just be a parrot. What kind of demon bird is this! Lu Yang was furious. With a forceful pull of his hand, the parrot was swiftly captured, not even getting a chance to react. The vige head could have done the same, but he was hesitant, thinking the bird was a Qi Cultivation or Foundation Building stage demon beast. Demon beast! Theres a demon beast! the parrot squawked non-stop. Peach Blossom Leaf, hearing themotion inside the room, rushed over to check, feeling just as frustrated as Lu Yang. It was good that the mission waspleted without a battle, but the problem was they had traveled all the way from the Dao Seeking Sect, enduring a three-day flying boat ride, just to catch a parrot? How would they write this in the mission report without bing aughing stock? People in Taiping Vige had limited knowledge and didnt recognize this bird from the deep rainforest, but Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf did. This basic knowledge was well-known in the Dao Seeking Sect. No wonder hes a Daoist; he easily captured the demon bird! The vige head and others praised Lu Yang for his profound cultivation after learning that the parrot had been caught. Both felt helpless and patiently exined to the vigers that this was a verymon bird, just not often seen in the northern part of the continent. This parrot or the demon bird you refer to, is best at mimicking human speech. Mimicking human speech, mimicking human speech, the parrot kept repeating next to them. Lu Yang held the parrots beak and continued exining to the people. It calling Zhang Guanjia a demon wasnt its own intention but a mimicry of what it heard from Feng the tailor. When it encountered Zhang Guanjia, it happened to repeat the phrase. Zhang Guanjia breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the Dao Seeking Sect disciples had cleared his name so quickly. Simrly, when it said, Who are you, where is Zhang Guanjia? it didnt understand the meaning. It was just repeating something it heard elsewhere, meaninglessly. That damn bird, let me kill it. Zhang Guanjia was furious at the sight of the parrot. Lu Yang raised his hand to stop Zhang Guanjia: Considering the distance from the rainforest, this bird certainly didnt fly here on its own. It must have been brought by someone. Other than someone being extremely bored to bring this parrot, which is only peculiar and serves no other purpose, across half the continent, it could only be the doing of the Luodi Commercial Chamber . Is there a branch of the exchange here? The vige head shook his head: Such a business wouldnt open in our remote and poor vige. However, there is one in Quhe County, located in the busiest area, bustling with endless visitors. Its possible someone bought it from the exchange and then the parrot identally escaped. As for the parrot escaping directly from the Luodi Commercial Chamber , that was absolutely impossible. Lu Yang further inquired: The bird has been circling Taiping Vige for twenty days and hasnt gone anywhere else. Perhaps its owner is here. Vige head, do you have any thoughts on this? After pondering for a while, the vige head replied: Everyone in the vige knows about the demon bird. If theres someone who might not know, it would be the Shang family to the east. The Shang family rarely goes out and avoids talking to people. I heard its because the head of the Shang family is also a cultivator. After suffering setbacks in his youth, his cultivation plummeted, and since then, he has lost his passion for cultivation and lives in seclusion here. The Shang family is also quite wealthy, the richest in the area. It would make sense if they bought the parrot from the Luodi Commercial Chamber . Then lets go and ask the Shang family. Taiping Vige isnt big, so Lu Yang, Peach Blossom Leaf, and the parrot quickly arrived at the Shang familys doorstep. After a round of knocking, the door was quickly opened by a middle-aged man with a goatee, dressed in a Confucian robe and appearing quite refined. So its the vige head. May I know who these two are so I can inform the master? the man with the goatee said. Lu Yang, holding the parrots wing like hes carrying a chicken to be ughtered for the New Years visit, said, We happened to find this parrot and thought it might belong to the Shang family, so we came to inquire. The man with the goatee was initially surprised by Peach Blossom Leafs beauty, having never seen such a beautiful woman before. Then, he noticed the green parrot and smiled joyfully, Ah, I see. Thank you, young heroes. This must be our youngdys parrot. Shes been gloomy ever since it went missing, causing us servants quite some trouble. Our youngdy will be so happy to know that her parrot has been found. The vige head whispered to Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf, Hes the steward of the Shang family, surnamed Zhang. Every time Ie to the Shang family, hes the one who answers the door. Steward Zhang hurried to report, and soon got a response. The master invites you three inside. Passing through the screen door, walking through the outer courtyard, passing the second gate, the corridor, and then the main house, they finally met the head of the Shang family. The head of the Shang family was a portly man, with a sullen look on his face that kept people at bay. He didnt like talking much, but he seemed quite happy to see the vige head. Huang, my old friend, its been a long time since west met. The vige heads surname is Huang. They greeted each other with a bow. The head of the Shang family then examined the parrot for a moment and nodded, Yes, this is the parrot my daughter bought from the Luodi Commercial Chamber in the county. At that time, I thought it wasnt worth much. The exchange asked for an exorbitant price, but my daughter insisted on buying it, so I had toply with her wish. Steward Zhang, please take these two young heroes to meet Xiao Yuan. Yes, master. Steward Zhang gestured for them to follow and called a maid to serve tea and water to the Shang family head and Huang, the vige head. On the way, Peach Blossom Leaf casually asked, How long have you been with the Shang family, steward Zhang? Steward Zhang respectfully replied, The master saved me on his way into seclusion, and since then, I have been serving by his side. Its been about twenty years now. The youngdy wasnt even born at that time. So, you must have a very good rtionship with Miss Shang. Not to hide from the young heroes, I watched the youngdy grow up. I have no children of my own, and I treat her as my own daughter. Seeing her downcast every day, it pains my heart as a steward. Lu Yang suddenly asked, Were you present when the parrot went missing? Steward Zhang sighed, his tone filled with self-me: At that moment, I was distracted and didnt notice the parrot flying away. If I had been more attentive, I would not have let the youngdy be so upset. It was my dereliction of duty. Lu Yang simply nodded, not saying anything more. Steward Zhang knocked gently three times at the door and spoke calmly, Miss, the parrot you lost has been found. Two young wandering heroes have brought it here. A voice came from inside the room, Let them in. Yes. Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf opened the door. Miss Shang of the Shang family was leaning by the window, quietly reading a book. The evening sunlight shone on her hair, creating a static beauty that seemed to freeze time. Many young men in Taiping Vige were infatuated with Miss Shang. Lu Yang kindly suggested, Reading in the sunlight is bad for your eyes, especially in the evening. You should light amp. Your father isnt short of money. (End of the chapter) Chapter 21: Staying Overnight Chapter 21: Staying Overnight Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Miss Shang of the Shang family closed her book and greeted Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf with an icy tone, Thank you for bringing Xiao Lu back. My name is Shang Yuan. The parrot, seeing Shang Yuan, fluttered its wings frantically, trying to escape Lu Yangs grip. Lu Yang let go, allowing the parrot to fly around the room. Be more careful next time. Luckily, this parrot kept circling around Taiping Vige. Otherwise, if it flew elsewhere, it would have been truly lost, Lu Yang reminded Shang Yuan with a smile. Shang Yuan, observing the twos refined attire, could tell they were seasoned wanderers, embodying the chivalrous spirit. Their outfits were rmended by the Dao Seeking Sects mission hall, designed to give the impression of experienced, righteous wanderers. However, Shang Yuans demeanor was somewhat distant. It was unclear if it was due to her personality or something else. Xiao Lu is back, you can go now, she said. Peach Blossom Leaf frowned at Shang Yuans attitude. Ignoring Shang Yuans hints to leave, Lu Yang cheerfully suggested, Lets chat. The Shang family seems quite weing, maybe theyll even offer us a ce to stay overnight. Shang Yuan scoffed, The Shang family weing you doesnt mean I do. Please leave, and it would be best if you leave Taiping Vige as well. Why leave Taiping Vige? Its free of demons and ghosts. Havent you been longing to hear about the outside world? Lu Yang said. Shang Yuan hesitated, not expecting Lu Yangs response. Her tone softened slightly, Where are you two from? I havent left home in nearly a month. Can you tell me about the outside world? Wee from one of the five great immortal sects, the Dao Seeking Sect, both of us are at the Foundation Building stage. We came to Taiping Vige because of reports of a troublesome bird Lu Yang narrated calmly and engagingly, captivating Shang Yuan with tales of a life on the road. She was drawn to the vast and mysterious world outside, wishing to experience it herself. I want to cultivate, but my father disagrees. He says its too dangerous. If he hadnt been lucky in an ancient tomb, he would have died there. Ive asked him several times about his experiences, but he refuses to tell me, Shang Yuanined, frustrated by her fathers reluctance to share his thrilling adventures. Lu Yang pondered, realizing that the head of the Shang family had his own story. What is the cultivation level of the head of the Shang family? Lu Yang asked. Shang Yuan rolled her eyes, thinking of her fathers smug face, ording to his own boasting, he used to be at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. After a major disaster, he barely survived, but his cultivation plummeted to the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refinement. Peach Blossom Leafmented, Thats still not bad. Taiping Vige doesnt have many cultivators. The strongest, the vige head, is only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Being at the fourth or fifth level is quitefortable for living, especially considering the Shang family heads background. Shang Yuan sighed, But I dont want to be confined to just Qu River County. I want to travel the world and see its wonders and mysteries. You and I are of simr age, yet youre already at the Foundation Building stage, and I havent even started Qi Refinement. Peach Blossom Leaf was about to offer some advice when they were interrupted by Steward Zhang knocking at the door, Miss, its time for dinner. Also, the master specifically instructed that since its gettingte, you two should stay the night after the meal. Master and madam, along with Vige Head Huang, are waiting for you. Alright, lets go, Lu Yang replied. Peach Blossom Leaf initially wanted to refuse but was stopped by Lu Yang, See, I told you the Shang family is hospitable and would offer us a ce to stay. Why not ept their kindness? At the dinner table, the head of the Shang family sat at the head, deeply engaged in conversation with Vige Head Huang. Everyone else enjoyed the meal, which, although notparable to the cuisine at the Dao Seeking Sect, was still delicious. Steward Zhang and a maid respectfully stood by during the meal, serving diligently. After an enjoyable dinner, Vige Head Huang went home, while Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf stayed overnight in the east wing, separated only by a wall. Peach Blossom Leaf was reluctant to sleep there, being particr about beds. Except for the bed in her Dao Seeking Sects cave, she found it hard to sleep elsewhere. Peach Blossom Leaf knew this was a bad habit for a cultivator who often had to endure rough conditions. She tried to change but hadnt seeded yet. Senior brother Lu can sleep anywhere, she mused to herself, chuckling softly before yawning. Going to bed early today, looks like Ill get a good nights sleep Suddenly, she realized something was wrong: Wait! Someone poisoned us! She turned to grab her magical umbre, Thousand Illusions, but found her spiritual energy sluggish and hard to control. Shocked, she realized someone had silently poisoned them C a poison targeted at cultivators. Knowing they were cultivators and still daring to act, the culprit must also be a cultivator. There were only a few people in the Shang family, none except the family head seemed to be cultivators. Was it the Shang family head? Or a cultivator of higher rank that she couldnt detect? What about Senior brother Lu? A series of questions shed through Peach Blossom Leafs mind, leaving no time for detailed thought. Footsteps approached from outside. The door opened to reveal Steward Zhang with an excited, cruel smile. It was you! Peach Blossom Leaf eximed in shock, realizing it was Steward Zhang. She couldnt have detected him as a cultivator, indicating his cultivation was higher than hers. Steward Zhang held a skinning knife, its de reflecting the moonlight, bright and sharp. He licked his lips, eyeing Peach Blossom Leaf struggling futilely, like a ferocious beast caught in a trap. Such beautiful skin, Ive never seen anything like it, he said, drooling at the sight. I know youre from the Dao Seeking Sect. Killing you would bring trouble as your sect is powerful, but your skin its irresistible. I couldnt help but take a risk when you decided to stay and dine with us. Realizing their dinner was poisoned, Peach Blossom Leaf listened as Steward Zhang admitted to being at theter stage of Foundation Building. Despite his boasting, he remained cautious C cultivators from the Dao Seeking Sect, even at the Foundation Building stage, were not to be underestimated. Rx, itll just hurt for a moment, and then you wont be afraid anymore, Steward Zhang said, licking the knife and approaching her. Suddenly, Peach Blossom Leaf sprang up, her spiritual energy flowing freely. She grabbed her umbre and smashed it onto Steward Zhangs face, catching him off guard. How are you not poisoned?! he eximed in shock. (End of the chapter) Chapter 22: Who Said There Isn't a Poison Targeted at Skin? Chapter 22: Who Said There Isnt a Poison Targeted at Skin? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After being hit in the face, Steward Zhang spun around, dissipating the force of the blow. He couldnt understand how the poison he took pride in, which killed many cultivators, failed to work on Peach Blossom Leaf. She didnt answer his question. Having realized the parrot actually belonged to Miss Shang, she had been on high alert since then. The entire vige knew about a talking demon bird, and had the Shang family sent someone to search, they could have easily found the parrot. The Shang familys behavior defied logic, suggesting something was amiss. Furthermore, Miss Shangs distant attitude seemed not so much to shoo them away but to warn them of danger in the Shang house and urge them to leave quickly. Azy voice from behind answered for Peach Blossom Leaf, Thepulsory course for Dao Seeking Sect disciples includes 1,800 Common Poisons and Their Antidotes. Do you want to have a look? Steward Zhangs proud poison was a joke in the eyes of the Dao Seeking Sect. No matter how good he was at concocting poisons, could he surpass the poisons crafted by the sects Pellet Cauldron Peak? Turning sharply, Steward Zhang saw Lu Yang leaning against the doorframe, sword in hand, smiling at him. Realization dawned on him C he was the prey, not Peach Blossom Leaf. He asked How did you both discover it was me? He had controlled everyone in the Shang house and no one could have revealed his secret. While listening to Lu Yang and Shang Yuans conversation, he learned they were from the Dao Seeking Sect. But even then, Shang Yuan hadnt revealed his identity. Lu Yang replied, Do you know what the parrot said in the vige? Who are you, where is Zhang Guanjia?'' Initially, they thought the parrot was seeking Zhang Guanjia, but realized it was merely repeating what it heard. Lu Yang spected, What if the parrot wasnt saying Where is Zhang Guanjia? but Where is Steward Zhang?'' (TL Note: Steward and the name Guanjia in chinese are pronounced very simr) Lu Yang painted a picture: Twenty days ago, Miss Shang identally discovered that Steward Zhang had been reced. She confronted him, asking, Who are you, where is Steward Zhang? The startled parrot flew off, repeating thisst phrase it heard. Whether due to mispronunciation or Vige Head Huangs assumption about Zhang Guanjia, the parrots words turned into Who are you, where is Zhang Guanjia? Enraged, Steward Zhangmented the parrots meddling in his n. If only he had killed it from the start! It was not his first day in the Jianghu, Steward Zhang faced the duo with augh: As ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator, do you think you can stop me from escaping? Peach Blossom Leaf worried that if he escaped, theyd have to report to the sect, with no guarantee of tracking him down. This would be embarrassing for her, as it was only her third mission, and alreadyplications had arisen. Lu Yang remainedposed: Did you ever consider that if you could poison us, we couldnt poison you? Disdainful, Steward Zhang rxed, Poison, what use is that against me? As he spoke, his skin loosened and sagged, peeling off like a shedding snake, revealing aplete human shape standing in the middle of the room, empty-eyed and staring at Peach Blossom Leaf. His skinless body fell to the ground with a thud. A painted skin ghost. (TL Note: The painted skin ghost is based off a story called the painted skin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Painted_Skin) Peach Blossom Leafs expression grew serious as she understood why Steward Zhangs poison was ineffective. Poisons usually target organs, muscles, and meridians. Steward Zhang, being a painted skin ghost with his true form being just a skin, wouldnt be affected by conventional poisons. And who would develop a poison specifically targeting skin? Lu Yang had an answer. Steward Zhang, about to boast about his invulnerability, was horrified to find blisters the size of green beans on his feet, peeling offyer byyer, swollen and itching painfully. A yellowish fluid oozed out at the slightest touch. What is this?! Steward Zhangs voice carried a hint of panic. He had never encountered such a situation before. When had he been poisoned? Athletes foot, Lu Yang replied. Steward Zhang was baffled, thinking he had misheard. You think I was chatting with you? No, I was waiting for the disease to take effect. I figured youde after Peach Blossom Leaf, so I prepared a poison that triggers athletes foot in this room in advance! Steward Zhangs face turned pale. Peach Blossom Leafs expression darkened. Lu Yang grinned menacingly, approaching Steward Zhang, who retreated frantically and ended up sitting on the ground. You how did you know I am a painted skin ghost? Steward Zhang couldnt fathom how they had specifically poisoned him, considering his unique nature. He had never heard of a painted skin ghost contracting athletes foot! Now, his feet were so itchy he almost went mad, even considering amputating them. The poison forced him to divert most of his energy and magic power to suppress it, making escape impossible. Suddenly, Steward Zhangs vision blurred, and Lu Yang disappeared. How is that possible! Steward Zhang was incredulous. Lu Yang, merely a new Foundation Building cultivator, couldnt possibly have eluded his sight. Its an illusion! Steward Zhang realized toote and tried to roll away. But it was toote. A cold sh appeared, and in an instant, Steward Zhang was split in half from forehead to groin, a perfect cut made by Lu Yangs sword. Well done, Lu Yang gave Peach Blossom Leaf a thumbs-up. She had used her Thousand Illusion Umbre to trap Steward Zhang in an illusion. Imperfect as it was, Steward Zhang, experienced in the Jianghu, could break free in a moment of distraction. Lu Yang needed just that moment to strike. The painted skin ghost, known for its eeriness, had no advantage in defense, especially against a sword cultivator like Lu Yang. Unprepared and not defending, he was easily defeated. In disbelief, the painted skin ghost stared at Lu Yang, mouth opening and closing, seemingly asking: How did you recognize my true form? Peach Blossom Leaf looked at Lu Yang, curious about the answer. Lu Yang didnt speak but swung his sword again, cutting the painted skin ghost into quarters. He poured spiritual wine over it and set it ame, reducing it to ashes amid its painful howls. Better to eliminate such a creature first and exinter, as one could never be sure of its tricks. (End of the chapter) Chapter 23: The Past of the Head of the Shang Family Chapter 23: The Past of the Head of the Shang Family Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii How did you figure out he was a painted skin ghost? Peach Blossom Leaf asked a question that Steward Zhang never learned the answer to before his death. Lu Yang, tidying up the remnants of the battle, swept the painted skin ghosts ashes into a small pile, and Peach Blossom Leaf instinctively caught them with a dustpan. Its simple, just think about what the parrot said. Who are you, where is Steward Zhang?'' After meeting Shang Yuan, she deliberately drove us away, warning us to stay away from the Shang family. This meant the current Steward Zhang was no longer the person Shang Yuan knew and was extremely dangerous. There are three possibilities for Steward Zhangs identity switch. First, his body could have been possessed. But why would a spirit possessing someone linger in the Shang family for so long? If it were me, Id leave Tai Ping Vige immediately after possession and find a good ce for cultivation. Plus, Steward Zhangs talent isnt remarkable; it would be better to possess the head of the Shang family instead. Second, someone could have disguised as Steward Zhang. But that doesnt make sense either. The Shang family doesnt have anything valuable, so why bother? Is it some weird fetish? Even if they had valuables, why not just steal them directly? With his Foundation Buildingte-stage cultivation, he could easily rob Tai Ping Vige. The third possibility is a painted skin ghost, who loves collecting human skin and disguising as humans, blending in with them. Painted skin ghosts were once humans and became ghosts after death. They belong to a type of ghost cultivators, most of whom suffer from psychological disorders. For instance, painted skin ghosts abhor being exposed. They try to convince themselves that they are human, speaking and acting like one, until they grow tired and change to a new skin, starting a new identity. This cycle repeats. Lu Yangs exnation was logical, leaving Peach Blossom Leaf in awe, far removed from the impression of the timid Lu Yang on the flying boat. Collect the ashes; this is our proof ofpleting the mission. Lu Yang took out a white porcin jar, about two palms high, and carefully stored the ashes of the painted skin ghost. The painted skin ghost was an extension of their mission, part of the task. Defeating it would surely grant a higher reward than simply finding the parrot. Sounds of running approached the room from outside, stopping at the door as if several people, awakened from sleep, came to check on the situation but dared not enter. Their identities werent hard to guess. Lu Yang cheerfully called out, Head of the Shang family, pleasee in. The painted skin ghost has been in; its safe here. The door swung open with a bang. The head of the Shang family appeared, followed by his wife, daughter, and a dozen servants, all showing relief from having survived a catastrophe. Thank you, esteemed cultivators, for eliminating the painted skin ghost and saving the lives of twelve members of the Shang family! The head of the Shang family knelt down in gratitude, followed by everyone else. The painted skin ghost, capricious and unpredictable, could have easily killed the entire Shang family once tired of the stewards identity! Where the Head of the Shang family speaks, eliminating demons and defending righteousness is what we, disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect, are supposed to do. Lu Yang, taken aback by the grand gesture, hurriedly helped them up. Please forgive us for not being able to detect the painted skin ghost sooner. It was elusive, and I had no idea where it came from. Ever since it disguised itself as Steward Zhang, it forbade us from leaving the Shang house and speaking of it to anyone. Discovery meant certain death! As he spoke, Shang Yuan also looked guilty. Her seemingly cold demeanor in her room was an act to urge Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf to leave and avoid danger. The head of the Shang family continued, Unfortunately, having retired to the countryside, all my cultivators wealth has been converted into gold and jewels, useless to you two. I cant repay your kindness. Is there anything you need? Im willing to sell everything to fulfill it. His offer wasnt just courtesy but a genuine desire to repay their life-saving grace. The valuables of the Shang family were nearly worthless in the eyes of the Dao Seeking Sect disciples. However, Lu Yang did have a request. I heard you decided to retire from the world of cultivation and turn away from tomb raiding after encountering a life-threatening terror. May I ask what exactly happened then? Peach Blossom Leaf looked at the head of the Shang family with interest, intrigued by the story of tomb raiding, life-threatening dangers, horrors, and retirement. It sounded like a tale of great adventure and possibly great opportunity. She loved exploring unknown and mysterious ces. Lu Yang wasnt as keen on exploring the unknown as Peach Blossom Leaf, but he enjoyed listening to bizarre and extraordinary stories. The head of the Shang family, Shang Zhongtian, twitched at the corner of his eyes, clearly reluctant to recall that terrifying episode. However, feeling obligated to answer his saviors, he dismissed everyone else, particrly insisting on his daughter Shang Yuan leaving, and began his tale. Todays story must not be told to others. Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf nodded in agreement. Once Shang Zhongtian was sure of their confidentiality, he began to recount the events from thirty years ago. Thirty years ago, I, Shang Zhongtian, was somewhat notorious in the Foundation Building tomb raiding circle. Notorious or not, I was disliked by many. He reminisced about his golden days with a sense of pride. Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf didnt quite understand why Shang Zhongtian was so proud of this reputation, not knowing that among tomb raiders, such notoriety indicated exceptional skill. My approach to tomb raiding was always cautious. I never touchedrge tombs or ancient ones. Everyone in this line of work knows the saying: Big tombs have ghosts, ancient tombs have immortals.'' Here, ghosts referred to powerful entities far beyond the likes of painted skin ghosts in the Foundation Building stage. As a cultivator in the Qi Refining stage, I avoided their tombs. They usually leave little of value behind for their descendants, so theres nothing worth taking. Tombs of cultivators in the Foundation Building and Golden Core stages are different. They tend to leave some wealth behind, enough to make a fortune for someone like me. Unfortunately, you always get your feet wet if you constantly walk by the river. That time, I thought I was raiding a Golden Core tomb, but it turned out to be a decoy for a Nascent Soul tomb! Our rule is not to dig tombs much beyond our cultivation level. But I was blinded by joy at that time. I thought, with my peak Qi Refining cultivation, I could match a Foundation Builder in speed. Since tomb raiding doesnt involvebat, I considered myself practically at the Foundation Building level and decided to raid the Nascent Soul tomb. So, I offered incense to my ancestors, seeking their blessings, and started digging the Nascent Soul tomb. [To be continued] (End of the chapter) TL Note: Why didnt the daughter just write down a warning for them? It would have been much safer since he was just outside listening and couldnt see. Maybe his spirit sense could look inside Im not sure. Chapter 24: The Great Terror Chapter 24: The Great Terror Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Shang Zhongtian, spoke in a low voice, I tiptoed through the cold, dry tunnel, illuminated only by fist-sized night pearls that had been shining for countless years. The dim blue light barely revealed my silhouette, let alone my facial features. I always felt like someone was watching me, making my hair stand on end, but when I looked back, there was nothing, so I thought it was just an illusion. I followed the light through the rough passage to the central chamber of the main tomb. The grandeur of the main chamber was astonishing, momentarily making me forget I was in a dark, frightening crypt. Shang Zhongtian paused, seemingly recalling every detail of what he had seen in the tomb. After a moment, he continued, I had never seen such arge-scale tomb chamber. The ceiling was as high as the sky, and under the dome, terracotta warriors with sharp bronze spears loyally guarded their master. The burial goods, disyed in an Eight Trigrams formation, were in perfect harmony with the order of heaven and earth. The ancient corpse had been dead for hundreds of years, yet the terrifying vibrations emanating from the coffin still made my heart palpitate. It was as if the Nascent Soul old monster wasnt dead, just asleep, and could wake up at any moment. Hesitation isnt my style. I decisively took half of the burial goods. Just as I was about to leave, I heard footsteps nearby, echoing in the empty chamber, chilling to the bone. Then I encountered a horror I had never faced in my years of tomb raiding. Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf leaned forward eagerly, wanting to hear what happened next. Shang Zhongtians expression was one of intense pain, and his voice trembled as he spoke, I ran into the descendants of that Nascent Soul cultivatoring to pay respects to their ancestor! What? Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf were stunned. Those people, carrying offerings and treasures, were paying homage to their ancestor, praying for the longevity of their family and the emergence of prodigies. On their way to pay respects, they noticed me in the crypt and captured me. It was terrifying. Even now, just thinking about it makes me sweat coldly. I think their reaction was pretty normal, Lu Yang honestly remarked, surprised that they didnt kill Shang Zhongtian on the spot for his actions. Is that the great terror you mentioned? Peach Blossom Leaf asked. Yes, what could be more terrifying than encountering the descendants of the tombs owner while robbing it? And then? Then I was beaten up, my cultivation fell from the peak of the Qi Refining stage to the mid-Qi Refining stage. I was thrown into prison by the authorities, had topensate for all the items Id stolen before, and spent ten years in jail. After my release, I decided to wash my hands clean of this business and start a new life. Honestly. I couldnt face my fellow tomb raiders. Shang Zhongtians earnestness left Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf unsure of how to respond. After properly burying the remains of the painted skin ghost, Shang Zhongtian invited Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf to stay another night, but Peach Blossom Leaf declined. Had it not been for drawing out the painted skin ghost, she would never have chosen to stay overnight. Traveling at night was not difficult for two cultivators at the Foundation Building stage. Before leaving, Lu Yang sought out Shang Yuan and petted the parrots head. Had the parrot not been mistaken for a demon in the vige, they would not have had the chance to resolve the painted skin ghost issue at the Shang residence. This parrot is not bad; it might really be a demon. Nurture it well. Shang Yuan was startled and eagerly asked why. Demons in their early stages are vague and hard to distinguish from wild beasts. I cant differentiate them either, Lu Yang exined. But since Little Green didnt flee far from your house and knew there was danger but didnt approach, it might be a coincidence or a sign of awakening intelligence. Its hard to say. Lu Yang smiled and said no more. Shang Zhongtian felt he hadnt hosted them properly; after all, they had saved the lives of twelve people in the Shang family. The best he could offer was his story of retirement. Ive written a book on my tomb raiding experiences. If you dont mind, please ept it. It mighte in handy someday. Shang Zhongtian pulled out a blue-threaded book from his robe and offered it to them. Lu Yang politely epted the book, and then they waved goodbye and left. On their way back, Lu Yang asked, Do you want this book on tomb raiding? Peach Blossom Leaf shook her head. She wasnt into tomb raiding, so the book was of no use to her. Lu Yang also felt it wasnt very useful, but he kept it anyway. Why didnt you tell me in advance when you were poisoning my room? Peach Blossom Leaf still harbored some resentment about that. Thankfully, her status as a Feathered Immortal gave her high resistance to all poisons, otherwise she would have suffered the same fate as the painted skin ghost and contracted athletes foot. Lu Yang shrugged, clearly having ensured the poison would not harm Peach Blossom Leaf before using it. I did tell you. When? With a look during dinner. So you werent just trying to get me to pass you the dish because you couldnt reach it? Im not that superficial. Upon their sessful return to the Dao Seeking Sect, they coincidentally encountered Meng Jingzhou, who had justpleted his task and wasining to the senior brother who had assigned the task. Meng Jingzhou, your task was quite simple, howe the fox demonined about you, saying you had an attitude problem and werent cooperating with her? The senior brother was puzzled, providing a dual cultivation technique should have been straightforward, so where could the attitude problem arise? Senior brother, you should investigate that fox demon, theres definitely something off about her. All I had to do was provide a dual cultivation technique, but she actually demanded to test the product and insisted on practicing the technique with me to verify its authenticity, Meng Jingzhou said indignantly. If it werent for the fact that I cant break my Pure Yang state, I would have practiced with her! It was unclear whether he was angry about being a Pure Yang body and missing a romantic encounter or about the fox demons disregard for his pursuit of the Dao. Lu Yang, seeing the senior brother in charge of task assignments also helpless, stepped forward to intervene. Senior brother, we havepleted the task involving the demon beast. Lu Yang detailed how the people of Taiping Vige mistook a parrot for a demon capable of speech, and how he and Peach Blossom Leaf revealed the painted skin ghosts ws and dealt with it. At the end, Lu Yang handed over the ashes of the painted skin ghost to the senior brother. Completing your first task so brilliantly, youve done well, the senior brothermended Lu Yang. He had thought the task would be simple when assigning it but hadnt anticipated the underlyingplexity. Particrly impressed by Lu Yangs targeted poisoning and rapid resolution of the fight, the senior brother had newfound respect for him. If Lu Yang hadnt poisoned the ghost, subduing it would have been a tough battle, and it might even have escaped. Most importantly, this junior brother carried a toxin that could induce athletes foot, a fact that made the senior brother discreetly move a bit further away. You two exceeded the task requirements. Your original contribution points are quadrupled, making it 120 contribution points for you, and Peach Blossom Leaf, as you yed a supporting role in this task, you get 90 contribution points. Peach Blossom Leaf had no objections. Lu Yang yed a crucial role in this task, and she was merely bait. (End of the chapter) Chapter 25: A Bizarre Exchange List Chapter 25: A Bizarre Exchange List Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Contribution points in the Dao Seeking Sect functioned as an internal currency, essential for purchasing items within the sect, eating in the cafeteria, and conducting trades with fellow disciples. Besides these uses, contribution points were also needed for special rewards in the Task Hall. For instance, the extremely popr yet unaffordable One-Day Sect Master Experience in Dao Seeking Sect allowed the redeemer to act as the Sect Master for a day. This included attending meetings with the elders, handling sect affairs, being addressed as the Sect Master, and enjoying the privileges of the highest leadership position within one of the Five Great Immortal Sects The benefits were numerous, but the required contribution points were so high that no one had managed to redeem this reward yet. Some senior brothers had even thought about pooling their resources for the experience but ended up fighting over who would assume the role of Sect Master. They were all eventually carried off to the Pellet Cauldron Peak for healing, attracting a crowd of onlookers. Now, these senior brothers were on long-term missions outside the sect and hadnt returned for quite some time. Another example was the Medicine King Elixir, touted as a unique treasure brewed by the higher-ups of the Dao Seeking Sect. It strengthened the body, enhanced vitality, solidified the soul, and consolidated cultivation levels. Despite its high cost, it was extremely popr among the senior brothers and sisters. Duringbat, just a sip could replenish energy and elerate wound healing. Those who used it swore by its effectiveness. There was also the Airship ident Insurance avable for just one contribution point. Wait, why is there Airship ident Insurance? Lu Yang found this term somewhat unsettling. The senior brother tasked with assigning missions exined as if it were the most natural thing. Its quite normal. No mode of transportation is 100% safe. Even the airships operated by the Land of Gold Commerce can encounter idents, like colliding with a powerful being, mechanical failures leading to crashndings, or pilots striking for higher pay These aremon incidents, but fortunately, there have been no casualties. The chairman of the Business Association, realizing the risk, suggested that passengers pay a small amount into a pool. If an ident happens, the association wouldpensate the passengers from this pool. If no ident urs, passengers only lose a trivial amount of money. But if something happens, they receivepensation for the inconvenience. The chairman dubbed this model risk guarantee, or insurance, and promoted it extensively in other businesses. But dont worry, our Dao Seeking Sect wont let our disciples down. Were generous when ites to insurance. Weve already purchased various types of insurance for you upon your entry into the sect, including airship ident insurance. The one for sale in the rewards section simply increases thepensation amount. The senior brothers expression conveyed, Were a righteous sect, unlike those life-and-death demonic sects. We provide all necessary insurances, showing reliability. Development in the cultivation world is indeed rapid, even insurance is avable now. Lu Yang couldnt help but cringe a bit, recalling from his memories that in his previous life, insurance originated from maritime transportation, not realizing that in the cultivation world, it stemmed from airship transportation. He felt that this kind of thing was too ominous and preferred to buy something else. In the cultivation world, a bit of superstition is necessary. The senior brother seemed to hear Lu Yangs thoughts and added, However, a powerful being who studied cause and effect argued that purchasing insurance might establish a causal rtionship with risks, thereby increasing the likelihood of those risks. The Business Association tly denied this possibility, and both sides argued for a long time without reaching a formal conclusion. This topic is of great research interest in the cultivation world. If its concluded that there is a causal rtionship, that powerful being will favor you. If theres no causal rtionship, the Business Association will favor you. Either way, its a win-win situation. Lu Yang thought to himself that if he proved there was a causal rtionship, the Business Association might want his head. One contribution point can be exchanged for a hundred low-grade spirit stones, and one hundred twenty low-grade spirit stones can be exchanged for one contribution point. Blood Drinking Flying Sword, two thousand contribution points. The longer it soaks in blood, the more powerful it bes. Why does this weapon sound so unrighteous? The senior brother exined, It doesnt have to be soaked in human blood; pig, cow, or duck blood works too. Recently, the owner of a Sichuan hot pot restaurant in our sectined that someone secretly soaked a Blood Drinking Flying Sword in their duck blood hot pot. After an investigation, the culprit was caught and punished by being forced to drink a pot of spicy hot pot broth. I bet he wont want to eat hot pot for the rest of his life, the senior brother said with a peculiar expression, recalling the scene. Lu Yang continued browsing: A bottle of Fasting Pills with any vor for one contribution point. Ancient Barbecue Recipe, one hundred contribution points. The Sword Levitation Array, for twenty-five contribution points, was a practical choice. This array could be engraved on a weapon to allow it to hover behind the back, eliminating the need for a scabbard and enabling quick ess. It also included a protective array to safeguard the sword against the elements. Lu Yang bought it without hesitation. This semi-invisible array, once applied to the ancient sword, vanished like a droplet evaporating in the air, leaving the sword floating silently behind Lu Yang. He moved around, and the sword followed seamlessly without any dy. Thats a great item. Strength of Ten Bulls Pill was priced at a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand contribution points for various stages from the Foundation to the Nascent Soul. Crafted by the renowned alchemist Wu Ming, it granted the user immense strength, allowing them to sweep through armies. Despite being a product of Wu Ming, known for mixing poison with his pills, the description promised remarkable effects inbat. Lu Yang decided to buy one to test its effectiveness. Sorry to bother you, Peach Blossom Leaf, but could I borrow five contribution points? Ill repay you after the next mission. He asked, knowing that contribution points could be transferred among disciples. Peach Blossom Leaf, who needed a significant amount of points for her purchases, didnt mind lending five. Okay. Lu Yang promptly acquired a Strength of Ten Bulls Pill. The senior brother handed him a small porcin bottle containing a golden pill that reflected a bright light in the sun, clearly no ordinary medicine. Meng Jingzhou, Ive already promised to celebrate my sessful Foundation establishment. Ive reserved a table at the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion. Lets go for a meal; its all your favorite dishes,ughed Meng Jingzhou, also inviting Peach Blossom Leaf. Peach Blossom Leaf, would you like to join us? Meng Jingzhou, being Peach Blossom Leafs senior by ranking second in their entry group, extended a warm invitation. Peach Blossom Leaf felt that despite Lu Yangs fear of heights, his tendency to tell untruths, and his secretive poisoning of her room, they hadpleted a mission together and could be considered friends. Lets go. (End of the chapter) Chapter 26: The Origin of the Meng Family Chapter 26: The Origin of the Meng Family Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Within the Dao Seeking Sect, there were numerous businesses catering to various needs, ensuring that the cultivation life wasnt just about rigorous training but also included essential entertainment. For instance, the previously mentioned Sichuan and Chongqing hotpot and the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, where Lu Yang, Peach Blossom Leaf, and Meng Jingzhou were heading. Lu Yang had heard that the Dao Seeking Sect wasnt always this way. In the past, cultivation was strictly about cultivation, without the distractions of misceneous activities that could affect ones dedication to the path of seeking the Dao. However, when the old Sect Master and the former elders retired and new leaders took charge, the Sect underwent significant changes, promoting a bnce between cultivation and rxation. If these things can affect the heart of seeking Dao, then whats the point of seeking Dao? This was the new leaders viewpoint. Lu Yang felt the current atmosphere in the Sect was not ideal and resolved to reform it once he reached a high position in the Sect. At Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, the atmosphere was lively with disciples gathering afterpleting missions or hard training sessions. The food here was notably better than that in the cafeteria. Waiter, we had reserved table number nine with three sets of utensils. Please serve the dishes as per my previous order, Meng Jingzhou instructed. Alright, right this way. As they moved to the second floor, the fragrant aroma of dishes from other tables stimted their appetites. Lu Yang noticed that he couldnt discern the cultivation level of the waiter, which piqued his curiosity. This was Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leafs first visit to Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, as they usually didnt need to dine here. Meng Jingzhou, on the other hand, was quite familiar with the ce. Youve never been here before, right? There are so many delicious dishes to try, and the menu offers an array of choices beyond your imagination, he said while handing them the menu. Lu Yang browsed through the menu, intrigued by its contents. The first page contained a noticeable note: Only finished dishes are sold here, not ingredients. The second page of the menu finally presented the main dishes, with prices listed in both contribution points and spirit stones. Steamed Thunder Tribtion Essence: A culinary delight made from the essence left by cultivators during their Thunder Tribtion. Its believed to significantly aid in understanding the Way of Thunder and Lightning. Braised Ice Abyss Giant Elephant: Sourced from the coldest northernnds, this dish is made from the Ice Abyss Giant Elephant, a dominant species in its habitat. An adult Ice Abyss Giant Elephant is known for its immense strength, capable of shattering ciers and standing firm against avnches. Tomato and Egg Stir-fry: Thismon dish offers a selection of eggs, including ordinary chicken eggs, eggs from the exotic Eight Treasures Chicken, and even the rare Golden Winged Peng eggs. Seeing the prices, Lu Yang couldnt help but whistle in amazement. Clearly, these delicacies werent intended for Foundation Phase cultivators like themselves, and they could also hardly afford such extravagant fare. However, there were also items he could afford, such as Stir-Fried Fasting Pill. Seeing Lu Yangs increasingly furrowed brow, Peach Blossom Leaf thought he was scared by the prices and couldnt help but ask with a smile, Whats wrong, have you encountered some problem? You see, the meaning of fasting is to rece food with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and taking a Fasting Pill allows one to fast, Lu Yang exined. Thats right, Peach Blossom Leaf nodded. So, tell me, if you eat a Stir-Fried Fasting Pill, does it count as eating or fasting? Peach Blossom Leaf and Meng Jingzhou were both taken aback at first, finding the question somewhat absurd. But upon further thought, they found it intriguingly profound. They called the waiter over and asked if he knew the answer to this question, but even he was stumped. He had been working there for so long and had never encountered a customer asking such a question. Was it because they were bored waiting for their meal? The dishes here arent cheap, do you have enough contribution points? Lu Yang shifted his concern from the Fasting Pill conundrum, worried about whether they could afford the meal. Meng Jingzhou had only done three tasks in total and couldnt have earned many contribution points. The idea that Meng Jingzhou, Peach Blossom Leaf, and himself might end up washing dishes to pay for the meal seemed quite in line with Meng Jingzhous style. Use contribution points? Of course not, Ill use spirit stones, dered Meng Jingzhou with the voice of a wealthy man. Peach Blossom Leaf nced at Lu Yang in surprise, not understanding why he was worried about a Meng family member being short of money. Havent you heard of the Meng family? Lu Yang was puzzled. Is Meng Jingzhous Meng family famous? With the vast expanse of the Central Continent and countless cultivators striving for a lifetime to explore it, there were many Meng families. How could Lu Yang know which Meng family Meng Jingzhou belonged to? He had known Meng Jingzhou for so long but had never heard him talk about his family. Initially, Lu Yang thought Meng Jingzhous family was in decline and relied on him, a single spiritual root cultivator, to revive their fortunes. The most famous one, Peach Blossom Leaf rified. Lu Yangs pupils contracted in shock, finally realizing which Meng family she was referring to. The one from the Imperial City, which fought alongside the ancestors of the Xia Dynasty to establish the Great Xia Dynasty? Lu Yang was genuinely astonished. The Meng family of the Imperial City had a significant history. A hundred thousand years ago, during a period of chaos, it was said that heroes emerge in troubled times. The ancestor of the Meng family rose from the eastern ancestralnds, conquering far and wide, driving away demons and sea beasts, and subduing rebellious forces. After a thousand years of warfare, the Meng familys ancestor controlled half of the Central Continent, bing one of the two dominant powers. The other was the ancestor of the Xia Dynasty, who simrly expelled barbarians and demons, ending the era of turmoil. People had expected either a split rule over the Central Continent or a grand battle for supremacy between the two and various military strategists began to conduct war deductions to figure out which side had the greater advantage and how the other side could defeat the strong with the weak. However, both ancestors decided against further bloodshed. They believed that the maind had been in chaos for a thousand years, with people devastated and bleeding. If the war continued, there would be many more years of chaos, how many people would die by then. They conquered the world to bring peace to the world, not for the throne of the dynasty. So the ancestors of the Meng family and the ancestors of Emperor Xia gave up their armies and started a decisive battle in the vast starry sky as cultivators. In that battle, the sky copsed, the sun and moon lost light, and the stars fell. The ancestor of the Xia Dynasty emerged victorious, and the Meng familys ancestor graciously conceded. At that time, the ancestors of Emperor Xia publicly announced that as long as the Xia Dynasty existed, the Meng family would never die. The Xia Dynasty was established, and they stayed true to the words. The Meng family settled in the Imperial City, never oppressed or diminished. (End of the chapter) Chapter 27: Breakthrough at Hundred Fragrances Pavilion Chapter 27: Breakthrough at Hundred Fragrances Pavilion Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The royal family and the Meng family had a close rtionship, often intermarrying. The Meng family continuously produced prodigies, and whenever people thought the familys heritage was exhausted and the descendants were too weak to support the Meng name, a genius would emerge, upholding the Meng familys immortal legend. Thus, rumors said that the Meng family had linked their familys fate with the destiny of the Great Xia Dynasty; as long as the dynasty existed, the Meng family would never perish. Its not that exaggerated, Meng Jingzhouughed heartily, modestly saying, I didnt expect you to guess that I am the once-in-a-generation genius of the Meng family. No, we didnt think you were a genius, Lu Yang spoke the truth. A non-serious Meng Jingzhou supporting the Meng familys great responsibilities seemed like it would mark the end of the Meng familys immortal legend. If there was a genius, it was more fitting for Lu Yang, who was destined to shoulder the great responsibilities of the Dao Seeking Sect in the future. The two praised themselves and belittled each other,pletely forgetting about Peach Blossom Leaf beside them, whose talent as a Feathery Immortal Body surpassed both single spiritual roots and sword spiritual roots. Fortunately, they didnt dwell on this topic for too long. A powerful and wild aura suddenly spread from downstairs, shaking the entire Hundred Fragrances Pavilion. If the building hadnt been sturdy, the aura alone could have copsed the structure! Lu Yang and the others felt as if their heads were struck by a heavy hammer, their minds went nk, and their internal organs felt like they were being squeezed together an extremely ufortable sensation. Others in the vicinity with higher cultivation levels than Lu Yangs group, including some in the Golden Core phase, fared slightly better but not by much. Is someone breaking through to the Nascent Soul phase?! a Nascent Soul phase sister eximed in surprise, sensing a hint of primitive wildness in the aura. The dishes in Hundred Fragrances Pavilion were not just delicious; they could increase cultivation levels or even help a cultivation technique circte for several more cycles. Ifbined correctly, the food could enhance their effects. Ive heard that one can break through an entire realm just by having a meal here, but I thought it was just a rumor. Today, I see its true! Who knows which lucky junior brother or sister is breaking through here. Normally, people breaking through would seek a quiet ce, closed off and protected. Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, with its noisy and chaotic environment, was not conducive to breakthroughs. Managing a breakthrough in such a setting demonstrated how greatly Hundred Fragrances Pavilions food could enhance cultivation! The waiter gently pressed down, and the pressure from the Nascent Soul phase immediately disappeared. Everyone caught their breath, then looked at the waiter in astonishment. To them, the waiter was only at the Golden Core phase, but his casual disy of power clearly surpassed that level. His true cultivation level was disguised. Someone whispered to theirpanion, I heard from an elder that when Hundred Fragrances Pavilion first opened a thousand years ago, he was already the waiter. A thousand years have passed, and he still looks the same. Itsmon for cultivators appearances to remain unchanged, but staying exactly the same for a thousand years was exceedingly rare. The waiter, as if he hadnt heard the whispers, apologized with a smile, Im sorry, it seems one of our guests got too excited during their breakthrough and forgot to restrain their aura. Please excuse us. A junior brother who had just entered the Golden Core phase, reminiscing the aura of the breakthrough, brightened up, This aura has a hint of wildness, like the ancient dragon race reborn. It must be a body cultivator brother who has broken through. Lets seize this opportunity toprehend this aura; it might greatly help in strengthening our physiques! Indeed, indeed. This serendipitous chance is our opportunity; we should grasp it. Hispanions agreed, and they all began to meditate. Floating slightly in the air, they closed their eyes in silence, feeling the cool and refreshing qiing from all directions, making them exceptionallyfortable. Even though they were not body cultivators, cultivators still greatly valued physical strength. With sufficient magic power, but a weak body, one could easily fall victim to sneak attacks and be killed in one hit. Or, if an opponent engaged in closebat, one could die upon approach, without even the chance to escape or counterattack. Therefore, the Dao Seeking Sect ced great emphasis on the physical fitness of its disciples. The ancient dragon race, known among beasts for summoning storms and possessing invincible physical bodies, was one of the top ns, ruling the domain of beasts. Comprehending even a trace of the ancient dragons qi could greatly benefit ones physique, and if one couldprehend and adapt a skill or two of the dragon races divine powers, it would be an incredibly fortunate opportunity! Five Golden Core cultivators, surrounded by steamy food, chose to meditate instead. This scene was indeed a rarity. Such sensitivity to opportunity greatly impressed Lu Yang. Shall we also seize this opportunity to meditate and see if we can perceive the wild aura of the ancient dragon race? Peach Blossom Leaf suggested. Lu Yang was surprised, Can you feel the ancient dragon qi that the senior brothers mentioned? Lets try; theres no loss in trying. Just as Lu Yang and hispanions were considering whether to meditate and try toprehend the wild aura of the ancient dragon race, hurried footsteps sounded from the staircase. A fierce, fanged wild boar appeared, its eyes filled with panic and rage, instilling a deep sense of crisis in everyone. Such a ferocious and terrifying beast, its realm surpassing most of those present! And its aura was unstable, as if it had just broken through! The waiter frowned, and as he was considering whether to take action himself, a bright de shed, and a piercing de aura, intense and scorching, shed down. The wild boar was beheaded in one stroke, its head rolling far away,ing to a stop at Lu Yangs feet. The boars eyes stared at Lu Yang, dying with grievances unredressed. What should have been a bloody scene was bloodless. The intense heat from the de instantly cooked the severed area, emitting an aroma of roasted meat. The owner of the de finally appeared. He was amon-looking chef, wearing a tall hat and a special apron, holding a pig-ughtering knife, his face covered with coarse features, smiling like a bandit ready tomit a robbery. Sorry, sorry, I didnt mean to startle everyone. I was about to ughter this dragon-blood wild boar. Perhaps it was my intense killing intent that caused the beast to feel a life-and-death crisis, activating the ancient dragon blood in it, and breaking through to the Nascent Soul phase. This was an oversight on our part; it wont happen again. Please understand! The chef, holding the pig-ughtering knife and grinning fiercely, sounded genuinely sincere. The patrons felt they had no choice but to ept his apology. The chef picked up the boars head from Lu Yangs feet, reattached it to the body, and the oppressive atmosphere finally dissipated. The five Golden Core cultivators felt a bit embarrassed, unsure whether to continue meditating or not. One of them mmed the table, Damn it, bring a pot of pig-killing vegetables, made from that boar! The meat of a Nascent Soul phase boar, especially one with ancient dragon lineage, was extremely pricey. The pot of pig-killing vegetables they were about to consume would be worth waking up from a dream and pping oneself twice for. Even if it meant pping themselves, they were determined to eat this Nascent Soul phase wild boar. They couldnt let their indignation and frustration turn into internal injuries. The waiter casually slung a towel over his shoulder, smiling as he shouted, Alright, add a pot of pig-killing vegetables for our five guests! TL Note: The image here is pig-killing vegetables. Theres not really a good trantion for it in english. A direct trantion would be Kill Pig Cuisine. (End of the chapter) Chapter 28: Heard There Was A Time Where You Ate Tofu Every Day? Chapter 28: Heard There Was A Time Where You Ate Tofu Every Day? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang and hispanions quietly withdrew their gazes, trying to lower their presence. Given the fierce expressions of the five senior brothers, it seemed they were on the verge of a murderous impulse. By the way, do you want to guess what I ordered for you? Im sure its all food you like, Meng Jingzhou whispered, afraid of attracting the attention of the five senior brothers eating the pig-killing dish. Lu Yang was confused. How could Meng Jingzhou know what he liked to eat? How do you know what Senior Brother Lu likes? Peach Blossom Leaf asked in an even lower voice. Meng Jingzhou gestured a thumbs-up, revealing a radiant smile with eight teeth: I specifically asked the eldest senior sister. Lu Yang immediately had a bad premonition. Stuffed tofu is here! Fresh tofu brain! Cold tofu with scallions. Mapo tofu. The waiter announced each dish while serving them. One by one, the exquisite tofu dishes were ced before Lu Yang. Even Peach Blossom Leaf, who wasnt particrly interested in tofu, was tempted by the aroma. With each announcement, Lu Yangs face turned paler. Meng Jingzhou seemed quite pleased with himself: The eldest senior sister said that there was a time when you ate nothing but tofu, meal after meal, and even talked about Tofu Celestial in your sleep. So I thought you must really like tofu. Dont be too touched. My family taught me that when inviting someone to eat, its important to inquire about their preferences to show sincerity. Although I dont always agree with my familys views, I agree with this one. I specifically came to Hundred Fragrances Pavilion and ordered a table full of tofu dishes for you. Dont underestimate these dishes. Although they seem ordinary, the soybeans used are all top-grade spirit beans, the side ingredients are all aged spiritual herbs, and even the water used is the pure essence of ice from the far north Lu Yangs face turned as pale as tofu in an instant. What kind of preference did you find out! After the diners had their fill and left Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, patting their bulging bellies, the waiter swiftly cleaned the tables and dishes. Once he had a moment to himself, he remembered Lu Yangs question. Eating Fasting Pill, does it count as eating or fasting? Seemingly a simple question, it was actually deeply philosophical. The more the waiter thought about it, the more he found it intriguing. It seemed that among the new disciples this year, there were some with highprehension skills, destined for great achievements in the future! Hey, chef, I have a question for you. The waiter went to the kitchen and threw the question to the pig-ughtering chef. In the scorching kitchen, even a Qi Refining cultivator would suffer severe burns if not careful. To cook heavenly and rare ingredients,mon fire was not sufficient. At least a me cultivated by a Golden Core stage practitioner was required for such powerful cooking fires. The waiter ignored the terrifying heat of the kitchen, casually fanning with the towel on his shoulder to dissipate the heat, recing it with a refreshing coolness. Whats up? Want to learn how to ughter pigs? The waiter red: Why would I learn that? Ive thought of a philosophical question rted to cooking. Let me test you. No longer cleaning the stove, the chefughed, setting aside his brush and leaning back: Ask away. What do you think, eating Fasting Pill, does it count as eating or fasting? The chef scoffed, about to answer without thinking, but then found himself speechless. Yeah, what does it count as? The chef looked suspiciously at the waiter: Wait, everyone knows your intelligence. How could youe up with such a question? The waiter angrily retorted: Ill have you know, pig-ughterer, dont underestimate people! So, did you think of this question? No. After discussing, the waiter and the chef decided that pondering such a question was too advanced for their brains. So, they brought the question to the proprietor. Surrounded by the fragrance of exquisite tea, forming ancient, obscure characters, the proprietor handled the teapot and cups gracefully as if moving clouds and flowing water, pleasing to the eye. The proprietor was an elegantdy with fair skin and a star pattern faintly visible on her forehead. She looked helplessly at the waiter and the chef, feeling that they must be too idle to think about such trivial questions. Dont be misled by the name of the Fasting Pill. Its purpose is not to avoid eating, but rather to slowly dissolve food refined into a pill in the stomach, achieving the effect of not eating for a long time. The Fasting Pill is essentially food. Understood? The chef contemted: Understood. So the alchemists who refine Fasting Pills are actually my colleagues. The waiter scoffed: Dont tter yourself. At best, youre on the same level as the boys fanning the alchemy mes. The chef, enraged, grabbed his pig-ughtering knife and lunged at the waiter. The waiter, not one to be trifled with, flicked his towel, which turned into a white iron rod with a ng of metal. The two fought fiercely, resembling street thugs with all sorts of dirty tricks. The proprietor, exasperated, thought these two were only kept around because they were cheapbor. The proprietor gently blew across her tea, the rich aroma wrapping around the twobatants, confusing them. By the time they regained their senses, they were downstairs. They heard the proprietors slightly annoyed voice: Go downstairs to fight. Any damages will be deducted from your wages. Unaware of the events in Hundred Fragrances Pavilion after their departure, Lu Yang returned to Heavens Gate Peak looking as pale as if he had been dead for three days. The eldest senior sister, dressed in indigo, sat cross-legged, floating three feet above the ground, like an ethereal fairy untouched by worldly dust. Yun Zhi opened her eyes slowly, her gaze as dazzling as a starry sky. Lu Yang rubbed his eyes, seeing Yun Zhi calmly looking at him, the extraordinary vision nowhere to be seen. An illusion? Why is your face so pale? Lu Yang replied irritably: Youre pretending to be ignorant. Meng Jingzhou heard from you that I once ate tofu every meal, so to celebrate my foundation establishment, he invited me to a table full of tofu dishes. Lu Yang suspected the eldest senior sister was doing it on purpose. Meng Jingzhou asked me what you ate the most. In my memory, you ate several jars of tofu while practicing with tofu. I just told him what really happened. Whats wrong with that? And about the Tofu Celestial Before Lu Yang could finish, Yun Zhi replied in her unvarying tone: In your dreams, you shouted about receiving a legacy and called out Tofu Celestial. I was merely repeating it. Lu Yang silently looked at Yun Zhis detached and innocent eyes, admitting defeat. He always suspected the eldest senior sister was ying tricks on him, but he had no evidence. (End of the chapter) Chapter 29: The Concept of the Ancient Great Era Chapter 29: The Concept of the Ancient Great Era Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Ive read your mission report. Using wisdom to eliminate a painted skin demon, you did a great job. Lu Yang felt joy in his heart; receiving praise from the eldest senior sister was not easy, and the trip to Taiping Vige was worthwhile. After brieflymenting, Yun Zhi thought of the implications behind the painted skin demon and her brows slightly furrowed. In the past hundred years, with the arrival of the great era, various hidden forces have be restless, ghosts and demons run rampant. Although the Great Xia Dynasty seems calm, countless disasters are hidden within. The dynasty, too proud to seek help from the five major immortal sects, keeps its troubles to itself. Yun Zhi sighed lightly, her words not really meant for Lu Yang. Lu Yang caught a term in his senior sisters speech: The arrival of the great era? He had never heard of this term, nor seen it in books. Yun Zhi spoke ethereally, as if not of this world: A hundred years ago, the Great Elder of Heavens Mysteries Sect emerged from his death meditation, spilling blood over Qing River, questioning the heavens with his life, and what he found out remains unknown. Heavens Mysteries Sect, known for predicting everything, emphasizes natural justice and karmic retribution. They were the ones who questioned the insurance proposed by the Luodi Commercial Chamber. The Great Elder then announced to the world, iming the arrival of the great era, heralding the resplendence of ancient times in cultivating immortality. Usually, its considered good if a single spiritual root disciple emerges from each generation of the five major sects. In your generation, there have been ancient barbarians, three single spiritual roots, and even rarer immortal bodies. Ive heard that other sects have also recruited many geniuses not inferior to single spiritual roots in the past hundred years. From this, we can glimpse a corner of the ancient great era. Yun Zhi rarely curved her lips in a barely perceptible smile, seemingly mocking: The ancient great era is said to be glorious, but in reality, it is extremely chaotic. The great era is also a troubled era, with various forces and interests intertwined. Demons and monsters scheme against each other, human hearts are unpredictable, and life and death are in the hands of fate. Countless innocents die before a great cultivator emerges, far less peaceful and stable than the present. Lu Yang felt his senior sisters smile was very cold. He had read descriptions of the ancient great era in books, where strength reigned supreme, and the victor was king, with no distinction between right and wrong. The human race was just one of the strong factions at that time, far from the dominant status it holds on the continent today. Demons emerged, dragons and tigers fought, heroes roamed the world, building their reputation with blood and bones, resolutely killing, and countless great beings became legends admired by millions, unattainable goals for cultivators. It was truly exciting, making one wish to travel back to that era and show off their talent. It was in such chaotic times that various heroes had the opportunity to emerge. But seeing his senior sisters expression, Lu Yang realized that the ancient great era was good for the talented, but a hellish nightmare for ordinary people. Life was uncertain, with no guarantee of survival till dawn. Amon skirmish among the upper echelons could reduce ones own people to ves and prisoners, subjected to envement and ughter, with no stability whatsoever. The descriptions of the ancient great era in books were grand because the authors themselves were high-level cultivators who yearned for those scenes. From the perspective of ordinary people, the picture would be entirely different. Lu Yang realized that since bing a cultivator, he seemed to have forgotten that he was once a mortal. That shouldnt be the case. Yun Zhi did not borate further on this topic, as it was too early for Lu Yang: Do you have anything else to ask? Well, senior sister, do you have any spells for traveling quickly? Of course, but what do you need such spells for? The disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect had an agreement with the Luodi Commercial Chamber. When traveling, all expenses rted to amodation and transportation were charged to the Dao Seeking Sects ount. Lu Yang didnt even need to spend spirit stones to ride the flying boat. Why learn a travel spell? Lu Yang scratched his head, rarely showing embarrassment: Its nothing, just want to learn, to save money for our Dao Seeking Sect. Yun Zhi didnt doubt him: You have this intention, and as your senior sister, I cannot disappoint you. Youve just established your foundation, and there arent many spells you can use. Lu Yang chuckled and rubbed his hands together: As long as there are some I can use. Your cultivation over the past year has been seen by me, worthy of the name Sword Spirit Root. I have a flying sword technique here that allows you to ride a flying sword and travel freely across the world. There are also teleportation spells, which refine your spiritual consciousness, allowing it to be strong enough to move your body and fly at will. The speed is not as fast as the flying sword technique, but its less strenuous and helps in battles. Transformation spells are another option. Once mastered, you can transform into a bird and soar freely in the sky. Little junior brother, which one will you choose? Yun Zhi casually mentioned several spells for Lu Yang to choose from. Well, are there any spells for traveling that dont involve flying? Yun Zhi looked at Lu Yang with interest: Oh? Why do you want a travel spell that doesnt require flying? Lu Yang stammered, unable to articte his thoughts. Yun Zhi didnt press further: There are indeed such spells, but they require a high level of Taoist understanding and sufficient magical power. You might be learning them a bit too early. Its okay, Ill give it a try. If it doesnt work, then so be it. This spell is called Shrinking the Earth into Inches. Its extremely difficult to master. Heres the mantra. Once youve memorized it, Ill start teaching you. Yun Zhi gracefully lifted her hand, effortlessly opened a space, and took out a golden piece of paper, neatly filled with elegant characters. Lu Yang carefully took the golden paper, knowing its worth. He feared damaging it. After Lu Yang left, Yun Zhi resumed her meditation. With a gust of cold wind, a hoarse and resentful voice echoed in her ear, chilling to the bone as ifing from the deepest abyss. My dear disciple, how much longer will you keep your master imprisoned here? The voice seemed to emerge from the depths of hell, causing shivers down the spine. The number of times I have taught you is few, but youve managed to cultivate to your current level. I am proud of you as your master. They say a day as your teacher, a lifetime as your father. You cannot neglect the kindness of your masters teachings and imprison me here. The Dao Seeking Sect has been without a master for ten years. Youve been exercising the masters rights on my behalf. Arent you afraid of gossip affecting your illustrious image as the eldest senior sister? You epted a disciple on my behalf, and even though he is a sword cultivation genius, I wont delve into it. But at least let your master out to meet my disciple. Its absurd to have him worship my portrait instead of the real person. Wont peopleugh if this gets out? The voice contained a certain magic, stirring emotions and making one unconsciously want to believe and release the voices owner. Yun Zhi, immersed in her cultivation, ignored itpletely. The aged voice, seeing Yun Zhi unmoved, turned its thousands of words into a long sigh, disappearing as if it never existed. Yun Zhi remained focused in her meditation, unaffected by the disturbance. (End of the chapter) Chapter 30: Shrinking Earth into Inches Chapter 30: Shrinking Earth into Inches Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Three dayster. Lu Yang, dressed in a tight outfit and standing tall, wore an excited smile on his face for finally memorizing the contents of the golden paper. Recite it for me. Thousands of miles exist, right before my eyes, released and then retracted Lu Yang recited fluently without a pause, clearly showing that he had deeply memorized the content. Yun Zhi nodded, noting that the mantra was esoteric, with profound meanings in every word. The act of reciting it consumed a lot of mental energy, and Lu Yangs ability to recite it to this extent proved his dedication. This mantra is an introduction. When youre not familiar with the spell, recite it in your mind to help you seed. Once you can use Shrinking Earth into Inches proficiently, you wont need this mantra anymore. Shrinking Earth into Inches is a space spell. Its a bit early for you to practice it, but since youre a disciple of our master, and he learned this spell at your level, perhaps you can too. The most important thing in practicing a space spell is safety. If the space is misced, it can result in being cut in half. Thats why theres an unwritten rule in the cultivation world: when practicing a space spell, there must be an expert in space nearby to guide you. Yun Zhi became serious, and Lu Yang, seeing this, also became solemn and listened carefully. The principle of the spell is to shrink thend to the size of an inch, allowing the practitioner to easily step over it and traverse vast distances. The more proficient you are, therger the area you can shrink and the longer the distance you can cross. When fully mastered, even the vast Central Continent cant hinder your steps. Be prepared that practicing this spell requires insight. Youve never been exposed to space spells, so be prepared whether you seed or not. Cultivators should not be swayed by extreme joy or sorrow. Yun Zhi imparted her cultivation experience to Lu Yang. Lu Yang nodded, feeling that his senior sister was the most qualified to say this. He had never seen her with any strong emotional fluctuations. He wascking in this aspect. Initially, Lu Yang thought Yun Zhi was emotionless due to her constant expression, butter realized she did have emotional fluctuations, albeit very subtle. Now, he could sometimes discern her mood from her subtle expressions. Like now uh, he couldnt figure it out. Ill demonstrate it for you first. Unaware of Lu Yangs thoughts, Yun Zhi threw a red g to a mountain peak opposite them. Before Lu Yang could see clearly, she stepped forward, disappearing and reappearing, holding the red g in her hand. Just like that. Practice a few more times after you seed, and you can be as proficient as me. Lu Yang stood dumbfounded, blinking his eyes repeatedly. What just happened? In his eyes, it seemed like Yun Zhi just threw the red g and then casually picked it up again. Whether the g evennded on the opposite mountain peak was unclear. There were no signs of using a spell. Yun Zhi rarely frowned, recalling that her master taught her the same way, and she learned it in one go. Worried that Lu Yang didnt understand, she demonstrated again. Throwing the g, stepping forward, and returning C all in one smooth motion, leaving Lu Yang utterly confused. Indeed, even his senior sister had unreliable moments. Learning seemed to be a matter of personal effort after all. Meeting Yun Zhis gaze, Lu Yang could now read her mood. She had high expectations for him. But senior sister, you should know that with your teaching level, no one could learn from you. Lu Yang sighed secretly. He could no longer rely on his senior sister and started to cast the spell based on his understanding of Shrinking Earth into Inches. Thousands of miles exist, right before my eyes, released and then retracted Lu Yang closed his eyes, formed hand seals, and recited the mantra while casting the spell. Shrinking Earth into Inches! Lu Yang shouted, and his figure vanished instantly. The surroundings changed into pitch darkness, as if he had fallen into a different space. Lu Yang was delighted, thinking he had seeded on his first try. He was indeed a genius! Lu Yang had heard from his senior sister that the principle of Shrinking Earth into Inches was to twist and fold space, allowing the caster to walk in an alternate dimension. This dimension was a straight line that enabled one to reach the destination in the shortest time. Just as Lu Yang was about to burst intoughter, he found himself being engulfed by dark substances pouring into his mouth. His body was also trapped, unable to move his limbs, and it seemed there was no air in this alternate dimension, making it extremely difficult to breathe. After a brief but calm reflection, he realized one thing: He had shrunk into the earth. Now, Lu Yang had good news and bad news. The good news was he had learned half of Shrinking Earth into Inches shrinking. The bad news was that he only learned half. On the surface, Yun Zhi didnt know what to say. She watched Lu Yang perform the spell, then shrink into the earth, effectively learning the art of Earth Escaping. Why would a space spell deviate into an elemental spell? Yun Zhi, as the top disciple and senior sister of the Dao Seeking Sect, was unparalleled in cultivation and innate talent among all disciples of the sect. Her ability to write techniques and learn spells with a single nce was legendary, making any genius pale inparison. Even she couldntprehend Lu Yangs method of casting. These were twopletely unrted spells. With a muffled pop sound, Lu Yang used Shrinking Earth into Inches again, sticking his head out of the ground like a mole, prompting an urge to hit or step on him. Lu Yang coughed, trying to alleviate the awkwardness. Despite his thick skin, he couldnt handle this level of embarrassment. Yun Zhi, expressionless, pulled Lu Yang out of the earth and shook off a pile of mud. Like pulling out a radish. That was an ident; Ill try again. Lu Yang felt he was close to mastering it. Thousands of miles exist, right before my eyes, released and then retracted He recited the mantra again, faster than before. Shrinking Earth into Inches! Lu Yang shouted, and the change happened again. Yun Zhi, a tall figure, was slightly shorter than Lu Yang. Usually, Lu Yang could see the top of her head, but now it was different. She gradually became taller, and Lu Yangs perspective shifted from looking down to looking up, and finally, he had to crane his neck to see her. He couldnt even see her face from his angle. Yun Zhi seemed like a giant, touching the sky with her head and stepping on the earth with her feet. No, Ive be smaller! Lu Yang yelled, noticing the half-person-tall stones on the ground, realizing the issue. Lu Yang, now three inches tall, hopped around on the ground, his voice much softer than before. He had learned a new spell shrinking to inches. Lu Yangs talent in spells was also terrifying. Like Yun Zhi, who learned only the shrinking part of Shrinking Earth into Inches, Lu Yang managed to learn both shrinking and inches! Yun Zhi squatted down to observe Lu Yang, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, still puzzled about what went wrong in the process. (End of the chapter) Chapter 31: Application of Learning Chapter 31: Application of Learning Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Yun Zhi pinched Lu Yangs cor with two fingers, shook him in front of her eyes, still unable to figure out the principle, and then put him back. Lu Yang was equally perplexed. He followed the mantra and method taught by his senior sister, so why did the spell turn out to be two different spells? This makes no sense. I will demonstrate it to you again. Yun Zhi was a very responsible teacher. Though her teaching was quite average, she had patience. Yun Zhi took out an hourss, ced it upside down on the ground, then held Lu Yangs shoulder, and the two of them jumped through space together. Lu Yang only felt a sh before his eyes, and they arrived in a strange space, with colorful flowing light on both sides. Lu Yang instinctively wanted to touch the flowing light but was stopped by Yun Zhi. That is a strange scene formed by the distortion of space. Dont even think about it. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would be torn apart and shattered if they touch it. Frightened, Lu Yang quickly withdrew his hand. The two exited the space and saw a giant white snake coiling around mountains, swallowing the sun and moon, refining the essence of heaven and earth. Its eyes were vivid, and the two happened tond in the snakes mouth, then entered its belly. Just as the stomach acid was about to drip, Yun Zhi stepped again, returning to the strange space. Following Yun Zhis steps, Lu Yang saw all kinds of bizarre scenes: an ocean made of magma, a great cultivator suffering a thunder tribtion, a silent swordsman carrying a thick and wide de These ces were unseen and unheard of by Lu Yang, truly unimaginable. Eventually, the two returned to the starting point, Lu Yang panting and still in shock. The ces I took you just now are within the Dao Seeking Sect, and you can visit them yourself in the future. The Dao Seeking Sect was too vast, and the ces beyond the nine core mountains were still unknown to Lu Yang. Try casting the spell again? Yun Zhi felt that there might be something different this time. Facing Yun Zhis eager gaze, Lu Yang braced himself and cast the spell again. After a day of practice with the two, Lu Yang finally learned to sense the underground environment and how not to get stepped on after shrinking. Shrinking Earth into Inches was not sessful even once, but shrinking and inches were sessful every time, bing more proficient each time. By the end, he didnt even need the mantra. A single thought was enough to cast the spell, as if he had been immersed in this way for months or years. Lu Yangs initial intention to learn Shrinking Earth into Inches was to use the spell for traveling. Now that he had learned the spell shrinking for traveling, it was in line with his original intention. Its just that the method was indescribable, and the speed was somewhat slow. Watching Lu Yang freely change size and burrow in and out of the earth, Yun Zhi casually asked, Little junior brother, I heard its tough for you to get tasks in the mission hall? Yeah, most of the tasks can only bepleted by cultivators at the Golden Core stage or above. There are very few suitable for me. Lu Yang was considering squatting in the mission hall for a few days to see if he could find a suitable task. Its quite coincidental. A few days ago, I was in a meeting with the elders, and someone mentioned that there was a problem in the medicinal garden. A task was posted in the mission hall, but no one took it. I think you are a suitable candidate. Why dont you go check it out in the medicinal garden? Lu Yang knew that since his master entered seclusion, it was his senior sister who had been presiding over the meetings in his ce. What kind of task? Lu Yang was curious. His specialty in the Dao Seeking Sect was not prominent. What kind of task would be suitable for him, especially the medicinal garden about which he knew nothing? He hadnt even fully learned how to identify medicinal herbs. Youll know when you get there. Yun Zhi did not answer. In Lu Yangs view, the Dao Seeking Sect itself was a miniature cultivation world. Without leaving the mountain gate, one could find someone to help with alchemy, artifact refinement, and formation setting Most of the time, it could be self-sufficient. Alchemy requires medicinal herbs, and the Dao Seeking Sect has a significant demand for them. They cant always rely on external purchases. To address the medicinal herb issue, the Dao Seeking Sect has developed arge medicinal garden within the sect for cultivating herbs. The mission hall also posts tasks for assisting in cultivating these herbs. Cultivating herbs requires specialized knowledge, and Lu Yang is clueless about it. He still hasnt even distinguished what medicinal herbs or spiritual beasts he eats daily, let alone cultivating them. From a distance, Lu Yang could smell the fragrance of the medicinal garden. Unlike the Pellet Cauldron Peak, which might sometimes smell like poison, this was the pure scent of medicinal herbs. Its said that if ordinary people smell it for a long time, it can prolong life and ward off diseases. At the entrance of the medicinal gardeny an old man, a fan covering his face, leisurely lying in a rocking chair, napping. Old man, is this the medicinal garden? Lu Yang asked. The old manzily opened one eye to nce at Lu Yang: Who are you? Lu Yang. I didnt ask your name, I asked your identity. The fourth disciple of the sect leader, junior brother of Senior Sister Yun Zhi. The old man didnt react much initially, considering the sect leader had been missing for ten years. But upon hearing thetter part, he suddenly realized its significance. The disciple of the sect leader meant he was Yun Zhis junior brother! The old man quickly got up, his body more agile than Lu Yangs. In the cultivation world, one cant judge others abilities and age by their appearance. Whether someone is a grandparent or a grandchild standing together is hard to determine. In the cultivation world, respecting the elderly and loving the young is not advocated, as the old and young might be stronger than you. So you were referred by Yun Zhi. You should have said so earlier. The old man became friendly with Lu Yang, as if they were close brothers. We are all from the Dao Seeking Sect. Just call me Old Ba. I am in charge of this little piece of the medicinal garden. Lu Yang suspected Old Ba was taking advantage of him, but he had no proof. What did Yun Zhi send you here to do? Harvest herbs? How many years old do you need, a thousand or two thousand? Considering Old Bas demeanor, Lu Yang couldnt help but think of the meals his senior sister made for him. Could they all have been harvested from the medicinal garden, being a thousand or two thousand years old? A thousand-year-old medicinal herb is not cabbage and is quite precious for the Dao Seeking Sect. No, no, Senior Sister is quite frugal and wouldnt waste medicinal herbs on herself. Lu Yang politely asked, Senior Sister said that a task was posted in the medicinal garden a few days ago, and no one took it. May I know what the task is? Old Ba suddenly realized, Oh, that task. Do you know how to cultivate medicinal herbs? Not at all, Lu Yang answered honestly. Let me exin simply. Cultivating medicinal herbs involves many steps, one of which is loosening the soil to allow the herbs to better absorb spiritual energy from the ground and the air. Usually, this task is done by a couple of Silver Ring Heavenly King Worms. Recently, they have some family issues and no one is doing the job, so I posted a task to loosen the soil in the medicinal garden. This requires one of the Five Elements Dao, the Earth Escape Technique. There are quite a few youngsters who know this technique, but they all find it too troublesome to ept the task. Its fortunate that Yun Zhi sent you here. So, what I need to do is Imitate an earthworm, burrow into the soil, and loosen the soil of the medicinal garden. Lu Yang: Lu Yang suspected his senior sister was ying a trick on him, but he still had no proof. (End of the chapter) Chapter 32: The Ginseng Child Chapter 32: The Ginseng Child Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii To be fair, burrowing in the medicinal garden is indeed a good method. While practicing the Shrink Earth technique, Lu Yang could also learn about herbal knowledge in practice, making up for his deficiency in this area. Its a win-win situation. Senior Sister is thinking for his benefit. Senior Sister is thinking for his benefit. Senior Sister is thinking for his benefit. Lu Yang hypnotized himself into believing that his senior sister had his best interests at heart. After truly epting his task to rece earthworms in burrowing, he remembered something: earthworms dont usually have genders. Why do earthworms have a husband and wife? Old Ba exined, Ordinary earthworms indeed dont have genders, a characteristic of lower life forms, oh, I dont mean any offense by that. Intelligent, transformative earthworms do have genders, especially the Silver Ring Heavenly King Worms, the king of all earthworms, possessing a bloodline suppression over all other earthworms. I understand. Please continue. Old Ba went on, There was no issue with the Silver Ring Heavenly King Worm couple managing the soil loosening. But then, I made a carelessment, asking the wife if, like earthworms that can survive being cut in half, she could do the same to take turns working with her new self. She was tempted by my words and immediately cut herself in half, turning into two individuals. It was like seeing identical twins, no, more like a clone. I watched one person turn into two and couldnt tell which was the original. Fortunately, they themselves could distinguish. When the husband returned and saw two wives, he waspletely dumbfounded. The two women then asked him whom he preferred. Being a straightforward man, he confessed his liking for both. Then, a family feud erupted. The three of them got caught up in a series of love and hate dramas and have since lost interest in working. Old Ba seemed very remorseful in his tone. Lu Yang: What a bunch of lunatics. How exactly should I do this? After his rant, Lu Yang quickly adjusted his mindset, gradually adapting to the thinking of cultivators. Its all trivial matters. Old Ba stroked his white beard with a smile: Just go inside, someone will guide you. But I must warn you, entering the medicinal garden is for loosening the soil. If you dare to pick any herbs, the Silu Peak will hold you ountable! Silu Peak, managed by the eldest senior, is known for its justice and impartiality. Thanking Old Ba, Lu Yang walked into the medicinal garden. As soon as he entered, Lu Yang was hit by a herbal fragrance tens of times stronger than outside. The aroma couldnt possibly vary so much in just a few steps distance. Lu Yang immediately realized that while Old Ba appeared to be the only one guarding the garden, aplete array was actually protecting it, preventing outsiders from entering. The array concealed the gardens aura, but with the overpowering fragrance of the herbs, it couldntpletely contain it, leaking just a hint. Even this faint fragrance could prolong life and avert disasters for mortals, hinting at the miraculous effects of the gardens aroma! Aside from the fragrance, the most striking thing was the spiritual energy C it was incredibly dense. Lu Yang suspected that the dew on the herbs was not water but droplets formed from condensed spiritual energy, each equivalent to a low-grade spirit stone! Everywhere Lu Yang looked, the garden was lush with various unfamiliar and unheard-of herbs sprawling before him. The herbs were neatly nted in rows, divided into different areas based on their species, dazzling Lu Yangs eyes. He dared not move carelessly, fearing he might step on some rare variety. Crouching down, Lu Yang examined several herbs and finally recognized one. The nt had three leaves, each with distinct veins, resembling condensed ice and emitting a faint chill. Ice Essence Grass, he recalled. This herb helps in cultivating ice-based techniques and increases the absorption speed of spiritual energy. Each Ice Essence Flower in the garden was nted at a considerable distance from each other, to prevent their chilling aura frombining and freezing themselves. Lu Yang had once fought against a puppet and was thoroughly defeated. Afterward, the puppet had used an Ice Essence Flower to treat his wounds, so he remembered it well. As for the other nts, he really couldnt recognize them. Hey, who are you? A not-so-polite voice called out. Lu Yang instinctively turned around but saw no one. Whos speaking? Hey, look down here, the voice instructed. Lu Yang looked down to see a three-inch-tall ginseng child hopping around his feet. It seemed displeased that Lu Yang took so long to notice it, requiring its loud reminder. Youre so dumb, why didnt you look down earlier? I had to remind you! The ginseng child was chubby with sturdy legs, running around Lu Yang energetically. Its roots served as arms, pping as it ran. Its bodys patterns formed facial features, expressing emotions just like a human. Young man, who are you? the ginseng child asked in an elderly tone. Being an intelligent ginseng, it was certainly old, so Lu Yang didnt dare to be disrespectful and bowed, My name is Lu Yang, and Im here to loosen the soil in the medicinal garden. Just here to loosen the soil, the ginseng child sighed in relief, worried that another hateful human hade to pick them. It had nurtured all the herbs in the garden. You must have been allowed in by Little Ba. Besides him and that female demon, its been a while since Ive seen outsiders. To the aged ginseng child, even Old Ba was just a junior. What use is high cultivation when the true measure among them is longevity? It looked down on everyone in the Dao Seeking Sect. Lu Yang knew the rules of the medicinal garden: the herbs were precious, and if one wanted to take any, they had to ask the gardens caretaker. Without this task, Lu Yang wouldnt have been allowed in. He wondered who the female demon the ginseng child referred to was. Another caretaker of the garden? The ginseng child, with its roots akimbo,ined, Why are all you humans so tall? Lu Yang also found it inconvenient to talk down, so he used his Shrink technique to reduce his size to three inches, matching the ginseng childs height. Ah, youre quite capable, much better than Little Ba, the ginseng child eximed, pleased to see a human of its own size. It always disliked having to look up at humans. The ginseng child was one solid piece, with no neck. From now on in this garden, just follow me, it dered boldly, patting Lu Yangs shoulder in approval. I still have some things to do, but Ill take you to meet the other Medicine Kings after Im finished. Medicine Kings were the most precious and intelligent of herbs. Even the most powerful sects might not possess one. Any sect which was a Medicine King would treat it like an ancestor. From the ginseng childs words, it seemed there were quite a few like it in the garden. Lu Yang marveled inwardly at the profound depth of the Dao Seeking Sect. (End of the chapter) Chapter 33: The Medicinal Garden Chapter 33: The Medicinal Garden Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang closely followed the ginseng child, observing the lush herbs around him with a sense of novelty. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled patterns of light on him. Being shrunk, the herbs seemed like towering trees, much taller than him. Soon, they encountered a rapid stream, naturally imbued with spirituality, used for irrigating the herbs. The herbs purified part of this water, benefiting both the stream and the nts. This is the river guarded by the River Spirit, the ginseng child exined. The stream that encircles the Dao Seeking Sect varies in pace, originating from an eternal spring. This spring, older than the Sect itself, was blessed by nature, having a speck of spiritual light. For inanimate objects, the greatest chance is to gain sentience, and this speck of spiritual light is crucial. If it assimtes into the object, it bes a favored being of heaven and earth. If not, it might take eons to regain such an opportunity, with the risk of destruction in battles among cultivators. Luckily, the Sects ancestors discovered this and locked the spiritual light within the spring, allowing it to develop true sentience. Grateful, the springs spirit volunteered to guard the Sect. The stream thus became both a protective barrier and a source of vitality, known as the River Spirit. To ordinary eyes, the stream before Lu Yang and the ginseng child was just a couple of feet wide and not very fast, hardly more than a trickle. But after shrinking, it appeared thrillingly vast. There was a makeshift bridge over the stream, probably built by the Medicine Kings for convenience. As Lu Yang crossed, he felt as if the streams flow quickened, as if excited to see him, though he wasnt sure. He also noticed a magnificent wall made ofrge stones,rger than himself, which turned out to be the wall of the medicinal garden. The ginseng child unearthed several transparent stones from the base of the wall, looking like hollowed-out ss. With its root-like arms, it strung these transparent stones together. These are Lu Yang recognized them. Spirit stones? The ginseng child confirmed, exining they were depleted spirit stones, used by the Sect to provide essence-rich spiritual energy for growing herbs. No wonder the spiritual energy felt so rich in the garden; it was fueled by spirit stones, likely top-grade, considering their use in the garden. The ginseng child, with its roots, strung the spirit stones and led the way, with Lu Yang closely following behind. As they walked, the ginseng child struck up a conversation with Lu Yang. Were standing on a grand array called the Eternal Verdancy Array that covers the entire garden. It aids the healthy growth of our herbs, and these transparent stones are part of the array, the ginseng child exined. Lu Yang had heard of the Eternal Verdancy Array, a top-tier formation used in cultivating spiritual herbs, costing a fortune and consuming a vast amount of spirit stones annually. By the way, I heard from Old Ba that our Dao Seeking Sect is quite poor. To support us, its said theyre nearly broke. Like organizing that cuju (ancient football)petition, people fighting over a ball, heads bleeding. Is that true? the ginseng child inquired. Lu Yang didnt dare to join in on the topic. Old Ba seemed nice and kind-hearted, but he sure knew how to swindle the Medicine Kings. This is called the Illusion-Breaking Celestial Wood. It can break through illusions and reveal the truth, truly a nemesis to all falsities. If youre under an illusion, just hold this wood tightly, and it will dispel the false visions, the ginseng child continued. Lu Yangs gaze followed the ginseng childs direction, spotting a cactus. Thats a Sr st Flower, essential for cultivating the Sr Body. Apart from cultivation, adding it to any fire-attribute elixir can infuse a bit of sr essence, very beneficial for cultivators with a fire-type spiritual root. The highest quality of Sr st Flowers is nine turns. A nine-turn Sr st Flower is even useful for those in the Tribtion Crossing phase. This area has six, seven, and eight-turn Sr st Flowers. Over there is the Enlightenment Forest. The leaves steeped in water can aid in enlightenment, and the wood is used to craft top-grade magical artifacts. Its said to fetch sky-high prices in the outside world. Every autumn, Old Ba plucks arge number of Enlightenment Leaves for you all to consume. Lu Yang had seen many descriptions of the Enlightenment Tree in books, praised as a celestial species, a divine tree. Humanitys rapid rise in the ancient times was significantly due to the Enlightenment Tree. However, this was his first time seeing a real one. The towering Enlightenment Trees looked like mythical trees reaching the heavens. From the perspective of three-inch tall Lu Yang, it was dizzying to look up at them, as if the Dao was thundering in his ears. I heard from Old Ba that its best for low-level cultivators not to consume Enlightenment Leaves. At a low level, cultivators Dao hearts and foundations arecking. Consuming the leaves prematurely is like forcing growth, detrimental to future cultivation and enlightenment. Just like how we shouldnt over-fertilize young herbs. The older the tree, the better the enlightenment ability of its leaves. The oldest tree in the Enlightenment Forest is even older than me and is a Medicine King. Youll see it soon. This is called the Lovesick Grass, one of the main ingredients for the Lovesick Moonlit Elixir. When the moon hangs high, if two people in distantnds simultaneously consume the Lovesick Moonlit Elixir, they canmunicate heart to heart, transcending time and space. A legend from ancient times tells of a pair of lovers, a man from a noble n and a woman of lowly birth. They met when the man went hunting and fell in love at first sight, vowing to be together forever. But being the son of a n leader, he had no right to choose his partner, let alone marry a ve. The n forced him to marry a girl from another noble n, strengthening ties between the ns through their marriage. Refusing toply, the man sneaked out on his wedding day and eloped with the woman. When the n elders learned of this, they were enraged and sent masters to kill the woman. She died in the mans arms, and in grief, he took his own life. Their blood merged into a wild herb, dyeing its roots red and creating the Lovesick Grass. Captivated by the story, Lu Yang asked, Thats so touching, did it really happen? Fake. Its a story made up by someone to sell the Lovesick Grass for a high price. I was right there when they made it up. (End of the chapter) Chapter 34: The Little Medicine Kings Chapter 34: The Little Medicine Kings Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii I once roamed the Central Continent, making a significant name for myself, reminisced the ginseng child. If it werent for someone revealing my effects as an aphrodisiac, forcing me to seek refuge in the Dao Seeking Sect, I would still be traveling. The person who traveled with me is also a notable figure among your human race, known as Householder Ancient Moon. (TL Note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Householder_(Buddhism))When he brought me to the Dao Seeking Sect, he mentioned writing about me in his book so that people would remember me. Householder Ancient Moon was a famous traveler in the Central Continent. He loved exploring and had adventures in the Central Continent, the Demonic Realm, the Buddhist Lands, and more, leaving his mark and tales in each ce. ording to legend, he was a historian in the Xia Dynasty, detailing the Emperors romantic escapades and his numerous illegitimate children. In the Demonic Realm, he was abducted by a Dragon Princess and forced into marriage, which he fled from, leading to a pursuit that ended in the Buddhist Lands. In the Buddhist Lands, he masqueraded as a monk, deceiving people. Whenever he was caught in a logical facy or faced an unsolvable question, he would reply with Buddha says its unspeakable. This phraseter became widely known in the Buddhist Lands. The Householder Ancient Moonpiled his observations and experiences into books that were quite popr in the cultivation world. Although there is no clear record of Householder Ancient Moons cultivation level, Lu Yang presumed it must be high C otherwise, he would have long been defeated. The ginseng child was an excellent teacher, sharing many stories from its experiences, including several herbs in the garden discovered during its travels with Householder Ancient Moon. Lu Yang listened intently, fascinated by the tales. As they reached a hut made of nts and flowers, Lu Yang felt an almost tangible life force emanating from it, causing his heart to race. Not right! Lu Yang clutched his chest as his body uncontrobly trembled. His heart beat faster and faster, as if numerous insects were buzzing in his ears. Listening closely, Lu Yang realized those werent insect sounds but voices inside his body, moring to escape. The ginseng child, noticing Lu Yangs distress, loudly cautioned, Hey, hey, hey, we have an outsider here. Everyone, tone down your life force, quickly! Lu Yang calmed his boiling blood through his cultivation practice, and the voices gradually faded. He knelt on the ground, gasping for breath, realizing that what he experienced wasnt an illusion. Something was indeed inside him. But what was it? The ginseng child, putting down a piece of ethereal stone, apologized to Lu Yang. Sorry about that. I didnt realize you hadnt reached the Nascent Soul stage yet. Unlike humans, the age of Medicine Kings, not their cultivation level, is what matters. The ginseng child couldnt discern Lu Yangs cultivation level but found him agreeable. What just happened? Lu Yang asked, still shaken as if he had just returned from a trip through hell. The woman and Old Ba from your race have too high cultivation levels, making me overlook the impact of our life force on you, the ginseng child exined. Our life force is so robust that it can cause each of your organs to develop their own will and be separate entities. Once you reach the Nascent Soul stage, with your acupoints fully developed and a leak-proof golden body, youll no longer be affected by our life force. Hearing the ginseng childsmotion, numerous three-inch-tall herbs hopped over to Lu Yang. King Ginseng, is this a human? Why is he so small? What do you mean so small? Hes the same height as us. Are you saying youre small too? Its definitely some technique. Humans techniques are mysterious. Whats so special about changing size?. Ive even seen people changing from male to female, and human to demon. Its nothing unusual. Ive seen it all, the ginseng child said. This human doesnt seem to have a high cultivation level, not even reaching the Pregnant Phase? Its not Pregnant Phase, Qilin King, your memory is failing you. Its called the Nascent Soul Phase. He looks like he cant even stand properly. Lets carry him into the house. The Little Medicine Kings discussed among themselves in hushed tones, creating a buzzing difort in Lu Yangs ears. They lifted Lu Yang above their heads and carried him into the hut made of flowers and nts. The King of Understanding Trees stood outside, scratching its trunk, causing leaves to rustle loudly. It was too big to enter the hut. Once inside, Lu Yang realized it wasnt just a hut made of flowers and nts but one constructed from ancient woods. Under the influence of the Little Medicine Kings life force, the ancient woods blossomed with new leaves and flowers, concealing their original appearance. Lu Yang felt much better. He slowly got up and began to recognize the Medicine Kings around him. As it turned out, he didnt recognize a single one. Whats your name, human? asked a small nt with three tender leaves, shimmering silver with speckles of starlight, resembling a miniature universe. I am Lu Yang, may I know who you are? Lu Yang politely inquired, understanding that these Little Medicine Kings were not just his seniors but ancestors to everyone in the Dao Seeking Sect. Thats the Three-Leaf Star Medicine; we call it Star King, interjected another Medicine King swiftly. It was a colorful flower with petals corresponding to the five elements and a center divided into ck and white. The center resembled Tai Chi, creating an ink painting-like beauty that captivated anyone who saw it. I am the Flower of Times End, just call me End King. Everyone says Im the most beautiful flower. I think its just envy of my charm, a way to kill me with praise. As a humble Medicine King, I consider myself the second most beautiful in the world The Flower of Times End rambled on and on. Lu Yang stared at the Flower of Times End for a couple of seconds, his pupils dting with disbelief. He might not know the appearance of the Flower of Times End, but he had heard of its grand reputation. The Flower of Times End, is it really the flower that blooms only when the world ends, causing time to freeze with its beauty?! It was no wonder Lu Yang reacted so dramatically. ording to ancient texts, the blooming of the Flower of Times End was tantamount to the end of the world, essentially reshuffling everything. Yet, ording to historical records, such a cataclysmic event had never urred! The Flower of Times End scratched its nectar nds and remarked, Well, some say that. But I remember blooming peacefully, with everyone happily around me. I didnt see any disaster. Its probably just a rumor about my blooming. Just as Lu Yang was about to inquire further, another Little Medicine King spoke up. Lu Yang, why have youe to the Medicine Garden? Did Old Ba send you to pick herbs? a small emerald Qilin asked, carved as if from fine jade, exquisite and otherworldly. Another shock for Lu Yang. A Qilin?! A qilin, one of the most mystical beasts, so rare that the entire world might not have one or two. Only ancient texts hinted at their existence, and the Dao Seeking Sect had one? The depths of the Dao Seeking Sects heritage were far beyond Lu Yangs imagination. The ginseng child exined, Its the Qilin Immortal Medicine. Its current form is its magical manifestation. With your current cultivation, you cant see its true form. Once you reach the Divine Spirit Stage and cultivate the Heavenly Eye, youll be able to see its true body. (End of the chapter) Chapter 35: The Female Demon Chapter 35: The Female Demon Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Hearing the term Qilin Immortal Medicine, Lu Yang was instantly on alert. Qilins were thought to be extinct, and likewise, the Qilin Immortal Medicine was almost unheard of, with very few nts known throughout history. In fact, some say theres only one Qilin Immortal Medicine in the entire world. Qilin Immortal Medicine in reincarnation. An ancient sage once spected that there were no real Qilins in the world, believing them to be creatures of fantasy. Records of Qilin sightings were attributed to the Qilin Immortal Medicine. Without opening the Heavenly Eye, its easy for people to mistake the Qilin Immortal Medicine for a real Qilin, just like Lu Yang did now. Old Ba sent me here to loosen the soil, Lu Yang exined. Oh, so youre here for soil loosening. Do you know the Five Elements magic? The Little Medicine Kings seemed pleased upon hearing this. Finally, someone was here to work. Lu Yangs face showed his dilemma: I cant say Im proficient, but I stumbled upon it. Im not sure if it counts as Five Elements magic, but I can burrow into the ground. Lu Yang felt his spell was more of a spatial magic, only exhibiting characteristics simr to the Five Elements magic. It doesnt matter if its Five Elements magic or not, as long as you can burrow, said the Flower of Times End nonchntly. Since the earthworm couple took their leave, they had been hearingints from the herbs about the soil being too hard, not airy enough, and wanting to pull out their roots to breathe and bask in the sun. This task had been troublesome for the Little Medicine Kings. Now, that problem could be resolved. People rarely know about the existence of Medicine Kings. Before this, Lu Yang didnt recognize a single one. The Little Medicine Kings possess incredible medicinal properties. If they appeared in the outside world, they would drive the great cultivators mad with desire. Actually, Lu Yang did recognize one. He identified the sunflower in the hands of the Flower of Times End. Its petals opened and closed, shedding its ck shell to reveal a white, jade-like interior, which became nourishment for the Medicine King it was eating sunflower seeds. And there were sunflower seed shells scattered all over the ground. Lu Yang wondered if this counted as cannibalism. Oh, this is called a sunflower, remarked the Flower of Times End, noticing Lu Yangs gaze. Lu Yang thought to himself, I know what it is. The Medicine Kings were all small in stature. Rather than saying they were cracking sunflower seeds, it was more like they were hugging the seeds and nibbling on them. It was evident that the Flower of Times End was enjoying its snack. End King, youre littering again. How many times have I told you, we are nts, dont imitate humans by eating sunflower seeds. Even the shells are edible! scolded the Qilin Immortal Medicine, reprimanding the Flower of Times End for its human-like behavior. The Flower of Times End was nonchnt: I nted the sunflower on my own, I can eat it however I want. Whats it to you? Pah. This angered the Qilin Immortal Medicine, which pounced towards the Flower of Times End. The two Little Medicine Kings started scuffling, tumbling over each other without any real harm. The ginseng child and the Three-Leaf Star Medicine were used to this sight and urged Lu Yang to demonstrate his burrowing technique. Dont mind them, theyll stop when they get tired. Outside the wooden hut, Lu Yang saw a gigantic tree. Its roots were as thick as legs, full of life, and its dense foliage rustled vigorously. The Understanding Tree? Lu Yang was astonished. Even if he returned to his normal size, this Understanding Tree would still be massive enough to shade the sky, requiring dozens of people to embrace its trunk, not to mention he was only three inches tall now. The Enlightenment Tree exudes an aura of Dao, its leaves rustling as if whispering the sounds of Dao, as if all the great Dao of the world converged upon it, shaping its essence. The Enlightenment Tree is mysterious and majestic, invible. This is the Enlightenment Tree I mentioned to you before, we all call it the Tree King. Its talent in the Dao is nothing short of extraordinary, said the Ginseng Child. The leaves of the Enlightenment Tree can aid in enlightenment. If the Enlightenment Tree itself bes sentient, one can only imagine how profound its talent in cultivation must be. Despite appearing frail, each of the Medicine Kings possesses their own unique divine abilities, not to be underestimated. Without their life-saving skills, relying solely on the mercy of humans, they wouldnt have survived until now. The Tree King joked, Ginseng King, youre ttering me again. If Im at the top, then what kind of talent does that female demon have? Who is this female demon? Judging by the tone of the Medicine Kings, she didnt seem like a good character. In the medicine garden, besides Old Ba, only the female demon cane here. Shes incredibly powerful, we cant beat her. Whatever she wants to pluck, she plucks, no medicine can stop her! My old ginseng whiskers were plucked by her. It hurt so much I had to lie in bed and rest for several days, the Ginseng Child angrily denounced the female demons outrageous behavior. The stars on my leaf surfaces were also plucked by her. Look, dont these few stars seem dimmer than the others? I dont even know how long it will take for them to grow back! In the description of the little Medicine Kings, the female demons wrongdoings are too numerous to be recorded, and every medicine longs for her retribution. Whats even more infuriating is that she said she would take these things back for a bath. Can you imagine, she actually bathes with parts of our bodies, thats too perverse! By the way, I heard from Old Ba that the female demon holds a high position in your Dao Seeking Sect, called Yunzhi. Lu Yang: He realized he wasnt surprised by this answer at all. Is it a problem with the Senior Sister or himself? Lu Yang forced augh, a bit awkwardly, not sure what to say, That, um, the Senior Sister you mentioned, I think I know her. Shes actually my Senior Sister. The Tree Kingughed heartily, unconcerned, Thats nothing. Who doesnt know that disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect all call her Senior Sister. Do you think by saying youre her junior brother, we would take our anger out on you? You are underestimating us Medicine Kings. We have lived for countless years, why would we care about a mere human? Lu Yang, seeing the Tree Kings understanding attitude, breathed a sigh of relief, Thats great, so it seems even if I and she are disciples of the same master, its not a big deal. Theughter of the Tree King stopped abruptly, even the gentle breeze paused at this moment, and the leaves stopped rustling. The Ginseng Child waved its whiskers, its calm expression carrying a hint of a vicious smile. The stars on the leaf surface of the Three-leaf Star Grass began to swirl, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, ready for revenge. Suddenly, a murderous aura enveloped the atmosphere. Lu Yang calmly exined, Dont act rashly yet. Do you think that just because Im the junior brother of that female demon, I truly stand on her side? The Ginseng Child looked at Lu Yang skeptically, slowing down the waving of its whiskers, Is that not the case? The Tree King and the Three-leaf Star Grass also held back their attack momentarily. A grave mistake! Lu Yang asserted firmly, clenching his fists tightly, revealing an expression of painful reminiscence. That female demons actions are absolutely deplorable. Not only have you suffered her bullying, but I too have been deeply harmed! On the surface, it seems I am glorious, with a bright future ahead, but who can I tell about the torment I have suffered! (End of the chapter) Chapter 36: None of Them Are Trouble-Free Chapter 36: None of Them Are Trouble-Free Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii My Senior Sister may seem calm, but she is actually capricious, just not showing it on her face. As the saying goes, serving a lord is like living with a tiger. Being with her is akin to apanying a ferocious tiger! She indeed is a rare beauty, or rather, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. But, s, appearances can be deceiving. Can you imagine, she makes me consumerge amounts of wild beast remnants and herbal corpses for meals, and in the dead of night, she even has mepletely soaked in water filled with herbal corpses, iming it will strengthen my physique! There was also a time when I wanted to learn spatial divine arts for convenience in traveling. Instead, she taught me how to shrink myself and held me in her palm, ying with me between her ps! Lu Yang vehemently criticized Yunzhis atrocities, quickly gaining the sympathy of the little Medicine Kings, whomiserate with him. The Ginseng Child couldnt help but say, Since its like that, lets work together from the inside and outside. Youll be our inside agent, and well be your external support. Lets overthrow the female demon now! Lu Yang was startled and hastily dissuaded, Absolutely not, we need to n this carefully. The Senior Sister, being the top disciple of Dao Seeking Sect, possesses unfathomable cultivation. Just a few of us are hardly a match for her. He analyzed calmly, For safety, its better to wait until I reach the Tribtion Phase. That way, well have a better chance. Then we can act together, attack the Senior Sister, and seed in one fell swoop! By then, those with grievances can seek revenge, and those wronged can seek justice. Wouldnt that be better? The little Medicine Kings thought highly of him, We thought you were slightly less intelligent than us, but you have such a meticulous n. It seems our intelligence is on par! Having amon enemy, Lu Yang and the little Medicine Kings quickly bonded, shouting and boasting about defeating the female demon. With Lu Yang joining them, their group was like a tiger that had grown wings, confident of easy victory. At the entrance of the medicine garden, Old Ba sighed deeply as he watched Lu Yangs inspiring n through a water mirror. Yunzhi had specifically instructed him to keep an eye on Lu Yangs movements in the garden, to prevent any idents, and to inform her immediately if anything unusual happened. Now, was this situation considered unusual? If he really told Yunzhi, even if it wasnt unusual, there might be some idents. Why cant the young people of today be trouble-free? Having said so much, I havent shown you the art Im capable of. Lu Yang warmed up and disyed the art of Shrinking Earth. He posed as if diving and jumped straight into the ground. The Tree King and Yunzhi reacted almost identically, amazed at what they saw. Despite living for so long, the Tree King had never seen such an art. From the surface, it looked like a space-time art like Shrinking Earth into Inches, but in practice, it resembled the Five Elements arts. So young and yet able to perform an art never seen before, truly a genius in arts. Now, Lu Yang used Shrinking Earth adeptly, mastering various swimming styles like breaststroke, butterfly stroke, and freestyle. Lu Yang continued to perform his art of Shrinking Earth, with movements so fluid and adept that it almost gave the illusion that the earth was water. He swam through the ground effortlessly, using various swimming styles, asionally diving in and out of the earth with ease. The Qilin Undying Herb and the Times End Flower, having finished their quarrel, along with the Ginseng Child and the Three-Leaf Star Grass, recounted Lu Yangs tragic experiences under the clutches of the female demon. They were all moved and excited by his story. We finally have a nt insider among the humans! eximed the little Medicine Kings. The four little Medicine Kings sat on the trunk of the Tree King, pping their hands, impressed by Lu Yangs prowess. Lu Yang, in an attempt to show off, leaped high into the air with his legs outstretched and arms wide open in a cross position. He spun around 3600 degrees in mid-air, but uponnding, he lost his bnce and fell face-first to the ground he got dizzy from the spinning. His attempt to impress failed. The little Medicine Kings quickly scrambled to lift Lu Yang back up. Such injuries were minor for a Foundation Establishment cultivator and would heal quickly. The little Medicine Kings saw that Lu Yang could indeed loosen the soil, so they took out a map of the medicine garden and instructed him to burrow in a specific order. This areas nts have very deep roots, extending down to three meters, so be careful not to touch them and cause any misunderstandings. I suggest you burrow between three to five meters deep, which is the safe zone. For other areas, the roots are between half a meter to two meters deep. Just dig below two meters. Lu Yang asked curiously, What happens if I touch the roots? The Ginseng Child said seriously, We will think you have a foot fetish. ??? The Flower of Times End interjected, Your human race has many perverts who like to chew on our nt feet while drinking alcohol, iming its tasty and good for drinking. They even cultivate us on arge scale for this purpose. What nt are you talking about? Peanuts. Lu Yang couldnt quite keep up with the little Medicine Kings train of thought. Fortunately, he didnt dwell too much on this issue and began to follow the route provided by the Ginseng Child. The Ginseng Child, bored of watching the earthworm couple burrow, found it amusing to watch a human do it. They all followed closely behind Lu Yang. Although the little Medicine Kings also had the ability to burrow, their method involved merging with the soil, quite different from Lu Yangs way of discing the earth. The soil where Lu Yang passed became soft, which was just right for the little Medicine Kings. The Tree King watched the little Medicine Kings ying joyously and sighed. Being a tree, it couldnt burrow. It looked up at the sun, feeling its harshness, and sighed again, Why am I so tall? I cant even find a shady spot. The Tree King felt the world was full of malice towards it. The little Medicine Kings yed behind Lu Yang all day. On the way back, they were still frolicking andughing, Lets heat some water for a bath! The Tree King had prepared a barrel full of water, drawn from the stream used to irrigate the nts. A bright light emerged from the abdomen of the Kirin Undying Herb and moved up to its mouth, where it spat out Kirins true fire. The Kirin Undying Herb, resembling a real kirin, exined why ancient people were convinced they had seen a kirin upon encountering it. The temperature of Kirins true fire was extremely high, boiling the water in the blink of an eye. The little Medicine Kings jumped in one after another, floating and drifting with their eyes closed. Lu Yang found this scene eerily familiar, reminiscent of a scene in a kitchen. He remembered now C this was called medicinal cuisine. However, he had never seen ingredients voluntarily jump into the pot before. Soon, a fragrance spread through the air, invigorating Lu Yang and even seeming to enhance his cultivation. Indeed, as Medicine Kings, their medicinal potency is truly terrifying. Lu Yang watched the little Medicine Kings frolicking in the water, smiling helplessly. He recalled his Senior Sister saying that immortality was a poison, an unbearable pain that only those with non-human characteristics could endure. The little Medicine Kings, having experienced endless years and witnessed countless historical events, remained alive while those recorded in history had long since passed away. Perhaps only a childlike nature allowed the little Medicine Kings to live so long without breaking down. They were just too easily deceived. (End of the chapter) Chapter 37: Medicine King Spirit Liquid7_ Medicine King Spirit Liquid Chapter 37: Medicine King Spirit Liquid Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Under the dazzling night sky, the majestic form of the Tree King blocked the moonlight. The little Medicine Kings were frolicking in the water, and even Lu Yang joined in, creating a harmonious and seemingly timeless scene. After the little Medicine Kings finished their enjoyable bath, theyy sprawled on the ground and on the roof of the wooden house, sound asleep. The Tree King wasnt idle. While the little Medicine Kings slept, it collected the water and the wooden barrel, puzzling Lu Yang. What are you doing? Lu Yang asked. The Tree King casually exined, Oh, this is for Old Ba. He said the bathwater is quite valuable. The disciples of Dao Seeking Sect like to use it. The Tree King moved its branches, resembling a shrug, expressing its helplessness towards human behaviors. Being a nt, it found human actions quite perplexing. For example, it knew humans liked to use its hair or leaves to brew tea or its skin to cook, which they imed added vor, something called cinnamon. Oh, right, Old Ba also gave a fancy name to the bathwater C Medicine King Spirit Liquid. Humans are more cultured, indeed. Their naming skills are way above ours. Medicine King Spirit Liquid? Lu Yang repeated the name under his breath, feeling it sounded familiar. He quickly remembered where he had heard it C it was the highly popr Medicine King Spirit Liquid on the contribution points exchange list of Dao Seeking Sect. So, this was the special method of its production! Lu Yang began to question the authenticity of various strange items listed on the exchange list. The descriptions seemed fine, but that didnt mean there were no issues! In the following days, Lu Yang tirelessly burrowed through the earth while the little Medicine Kings incessantly chattered about herbal knowledge, making his days quite full. I remember theres a patch of Eight Treasure Lotus ahead, very pretty and delicate. Do you want to burrow over to see it? The Ginseng Child suggested from behind Lu Yang. Shouldnt the lotus be growing in a pond? Yes, the Ginseng Child nodded matter-of-factly. So, if I burrow there, wont I end up plunging into the pond? The Ginseng Child had an epiphany, Oh, right. You make a good point. Lu Yang, following the Ginseng Childs directions, emerged from the ground and saw the stunning Eight Treasure Lotus nearby. Morning dew condensed and dripped from the petals into the pond, creating ripples. The Eight Treasure Lotus was known for its effects in clearing heat, eliminating dampness, detoxifying, and nourishing the heart, often used in pill concoction. I just dont know why its called Eight Treasure. Lu Yang mused, recalling what he had read in books. This was a mystery among alchemists, with numerous theories proposed in various texts. Some said it was named for its eight effects, others spected it derived from the eight trigrams of Taoism, and some even suggested the eight treasures referred to the human bodys eight meridians, iming regr consumption could open these meridians. In short, there were many theories. Lu Yang leaned towards the first theory, finding it the most usible. Youre talking about this? I know, said the Ginseng Child. You know? The Ginseng Child put their hands on their hips and proudly said, Yes, the Eight Treasure Lotus was discovered by the Householder Ancient Moon. At that time, both of us identally entered an undiscovered secret realm. Fortunately, our cultivation was profound, so the secret realm was not dangerous for us. We yed freely in the secret realm, resting and eating on the spot when we got tired, just to set the mood. While we were eating, Householder Ancient Moon discovered a patch of pink lotus flowers that we hadnt seen before. I asked him what name he wanted to give to these lotus flowers, and he nced at the Eight Treasure Porridge in his hand and casually said, Why not call them Eight Treasure Lotus Flowers.'' Later, he took away several lotus nts, and they multiplied outside, bing what they are today. Lu Yang: This wasnt the first time he had heard stories about Householder Ancient Moon, and each time, they had unexpected endings. The other little Medicine Kings had also traveled through numerous mountains and rivers and experienced many things, but none of them had experienced anything as exciting as the Ginseng Child. Through their interactions with the little Medicine Kings, the little Medicine Kings gradually epted Lu Yang. Even when he returned to his original size, they didnt reject him and found the tall figure quite amusing. A month passed quickly. During this time, Uncle Ba took away the empty spirit stones and the little Medicine Kings bathwater, bringing back arge number of high-quality spirit stones, which he buried in their original locations. Uncle Ba also asionally picked many medicinal herbs and provided them to the Alchemy Peak. Originally, Householder Ancient Moon wasnt called Householder Ancient Moon. His surname is Hu, and he called himself Master Hu. His handwriting wasnt very good, and one time when he wrote his name, he wrote Hu too openly, and people mispronounced it as Householder Ancient Moon. He was a carefree person and went along with it, never changing it. The Ginseng Child, as always, recited the ck history of Householder Ancient Moon to Lu Yang. (TL Note: This is hard to trante. Basically his name went from to be which is the previous character but split.) Just then, Uncle Ba sent a message to Lu Yang. Lu Yang,e out for a moment. When he arrived at the entrance of the medicine garden, he saw an affectionate couple. The husband was confident and radiant, while the wife was delicate and charming. However, the type of clothing they wore was something Lu Yang couldnt praise. The couple was dressed in extremely bulky clothing, simr to lifebuoys. They were so oversized that even if they fell into the sea, they could float. This was the clothing habit of their tribe. These two are Let me introduce you. These are your seniors, the Silver Ring Heavenly King Worms. Uncle Ba said. Lu Yang suddenly understood. It seemed that the marital conflict between the couple had been resolved, and they were reconciled. He wouldnt have to dig up soil anymore. It was quite fast to resolve emotional disputes within a month. He had thought it would turn into a 40-50 episode drama, with the female lead losing her memory, the male lead awakening her memories, and the story ending happily. Hes Lu Yang. You husband and wife must have heard of him. Hes the fourth disciple of the Sect Master, cultivated personally by Yun Zhi, I greet the two seniors, Lu Yang greeted them, scaring the Silver Ring Heavenly King Worms, who quickly raised him up and refused to ept the courtesy. You are Yunzhis junior brother, Im Li Yin. You can just call me little Li. This is my wife, little Li. (the Li here is different in chinese) The junior disciple of the female demoness, who would dare to consider him a junior? Lu Yang didnt know what image his senior sister had in the eyes of others. How did you two resolve your problems? Whats so difficult about that? A voice came from underground. A couple emerged from the ground, looking exactly like the Silver Ring Heavenly King Worms. Since my wife can split herself in two and be sisters, naturally, I can also split in two and create a brother, Little Li proudly said. The second couple was also very affectionate. Uncle Ba nodded approvingly; this idea hade from him. He was still very responsible, resolving problems that he had caused. (End of the chapter) Chapter 38: A Touching Farewell Chapter 38: A Touching Farewell Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang struggled to find the words to describe his feelings about the method that challenged moral ethics and thought patterns. Its good that the matter is resolved. That was all he could finally muster. Old Ba also felt that resolving the issue was good, especially since it was his idea. Old Ba patted Lu Yangs shoulder: The little Medicine Kings are quite mischievous. Youve had a hard time recently. Take out your jade pendant. Lu Yangplied, and Old Ba touched the pendant: The 300 contribution points from the mission reward are now in your pendant. Effort brings rewards. The 300 contribution points were a considerable sum for Lu Yang. Then he realized that although 300 points seemed a lot, it probably wasnt even enough to buy the Medicine Kings foot-washing water. The exchange list was clear: Medicine King Spiritual Liquid came in ordinary and luxury versions. To Lu Yangs understanding, the ordinary version was the foot-washing water of the Medicine Kings, and the luxury version was their bath water. Say goodbye to the little Medicine Kings. Opportunities to enter the Medicinal Garden are rare, and you may not have the chance toe back Old Ba stopped mid-sentence, remembering that as long as Yun Zhi allowed Lu Yang toe, he had to obediently let him pass, without the courage to intercept. Cough, anyway, go say your farewells. Lu Yang nodded, sensing that Old Ba had more to say. Learning of Lu Yangs departure, the little Medicine Kings felt somewhat reluctant. Weve been friends for a while. Take this old ginseng whisker with you. Oh, this is too valuable; I cant part with it. My old ginseng skin too painful, forget it. I dont have anything valuable, so Ill just say goodbye verbally. The Ginseng Child said farewell to Lu Yang. It hadnt given anything when saying goodbye either. Were all cultivators; a month isnt long. Do we need to say goodbye? The tone of the Three-Leaf Star Grass revealed its reluctance. My vines and leaves are too vigorous. If you take them, your body might undergo strange changes. Its safer not to give them to you. During their time together, Lu Yang learned that the true form of the Qilin Undying Medicine was a green vine. The Qilin Undying Medicine was truthful. During the month they spent together, the little Medicine Kings suppressed their life force, afraid of identally transferring it to Lu Yang. If they were to give a part of their bodies to Lu Yang, they would need to add dozens of seals. Lu Yang wouldnt dare to use them. Youre leaving without giving us any gifts? The End of Time Flower cheekily asked Lu Yang for gifts. Moved by the atmosphere, Lu Yangs eyes brimmed with tears: In a while, Ill definitely ask the senior sister to visit you all. The little Medicine Kings quickly sent Lu Yang away. The farewell scene was quite rushed. Compared to the Medicine King Spiritual Liquid, the 300 contribution points were a fortune for Lu Yang, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Eager, he went to the mission hall to buy some good items. He couldnt always rely on the senior sister to provide him with things; he needed to earn money through his own efforts. Eh, I was just about to go to Heavens Gate Peak to find you. Didnt expect to meet here. Meng Jingzhou was surprised to see Lu Yang leaving the Medicinal Garden, but then remembered Yun Zhi was his direct senior sister, so it wasnt strange. Beside Meng Jingzhou was a man in a schrs robe, both refined and powerful. The man in the schrs robe bowed: Brother Lu, its been a while. This is actually our first formal meeting. Barbarian Bone, it was surprising when you joined the Fourth Elder. Lu Yang returned the gesture with a smile: You here for something? Cant I find you if theres nothing? Meng Jingzhou feigned anger. Come, lets have tea and talk. Meng Jingzhou led Barbarian Bone and Lu Yang to a teahouse. The Meng familys rule was to discuss matters over a meal. If the talk was enjoyable, the Meng family would treat; if not, everyone would split the bill. Three guests, what will you have? My teahouse has all kinds of tea, the Tea Professor asked efficiently. Lu Yang couldnt see through the Tea Professors cultivation level. He whispered to Barbarian Bone: Can you tell the cultivation level of the Tea Professor? Barbarian Bone whispered back: As far as I know, us new disciples that are just recruited are the weakest in the sect, even the chickens on the mountain have higher cultivation than us. Meng Jingzhou ordered a famous tea. Then, a pot of milk tea The Tea Professor initially suspected Meng Jingzhou was causing trouble. Oh, I misspoke. I meant a basin of milk tea, a specialty from near the far north, Meng Jingzhou quickly gestured, showing no ill intent. The Tea Professor then realized Meng Jingzhou wanted freshly made salty milk tea. Soon, the Tea Professor brought a hot iron charcoal basin with roasted rice, butter, dried beef, and milk skin. He then brought a basin of milk tea. Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone looked at each other, unsure of what to do, leaving it to Meng Jingzhou. Meng Jingzhou first slowly fried the ingredients in the basin until the roasted rice turned yellow, creating a crunching sound. He then poured the milk tea into the hot iron basin, causing a sizzling sound and the aroma of the tea to spread. Lu Yang took a sip, smacked his lips, and found it salty but oddly tasty. Barbarian Bone took a sip, then gulped down the bowl. Do you have any missions now? Meng Jingzhou asked. Lu Yang shook his head. He had justpleted Old Bas Medicinal Garden mission and hadnt chosen a new one yet. There arent many missions suitable for us. The missions in the mission hall arent enough for us to do. I wondered if they werent enough for us, how could the previous generation of disciples do them? So, I asked the senior brothers and sisters and learned the inside story. What did you find out? Not only missions from the mission hall count aspleted. Finding andpleting your own missions also earns contribution points. Report your achievements to the sect, and after verification to ensure the results are genuine, youll receive the corresponding rewards. Do you know where the missions in the mission halle from? How? There are three situations. The first is based on the Righteous Path Mutual Aid Agreement between the Five Great Immortal Gates and the Great Xia Dynasty. When the dynasty needs cultivators butcks manpower, they request our help. But this is rare. Although were all part of the human races righteous path, the ten-thousand-year-old dynasty asking for help from a sect is somewhat embarrassing. The second type is when someone asks the Five Great Immortal Gates for justice, assuming the Great Xia Dynasty doesnt intervene, like your parrot-catching mission. The third type is when our sect discovers clues while traveling outside. These be missions in the mission hall, with corresponding rewards prepared by the sect. This third type is our hope. (End of the chapter) Chapter 39: Junior Brother, Do You Know That Our Sect is a Righteous Sect? Chapter 39: Junior Brother, Do You Know That Our Sect is a Righteous Sect? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Of course, not everything can be treated as a mission. The three types of tasks I mentioned earlier all have one prerequisite: defending the righteous path. Coincidentally, Brother Barbaric Bone has discovered a suitable mission for us. Its too challenging for him to handle alone, so he has called upon both of us. Barbaric Bone nodded in agreement, not saying much, truly embodying the modesty of a refined gentleman. When shall we depart? Lu Yang asked. How about early tomorrow morning? Meng Jingzhou proposed. This was exactly what Lu Yang wanted. He nned to visit the mission hall before departure to exchange some items, feeling eager to use his umted contribution points. Iced Gourd: the water inside cools down quickly, offering a refreshing drink, perfect for those who enjoy cold water. Three contribution points. Multifunctional Swiss Knife: includes an earpick, nail cutter, marker pen,pass, and other tools. Essential for outdoor activities. Ten contribution points. Vajra Dragon Blood Knife: once a demonic cultivators treasure, activated by dragon blood to enhance its bloodthirsty nature, and suppressed by Buddhist Vajra techniques to contain its ferocity. It slices through flesh and bone effortlessly. Now, its demonic aura has been thoroughly eradicated, and its ferocity ispletely suppressed, though its sharpness is slightly reduced. Three hundred contribution points. Fragment of the Moksha Heart Technique: a remnant of a self-immted ascetics heart technique, believed to be his original creation. Theplete version is untraceable. This fragment helps in quickly achieving a deep meditative state by controlling the restless mind. Fifteen hundred contribution points. Lu Yang browsed through several items but found none to his liking, so he asked the senior brother on duty for rmendations. Senior Brother, I will be venturing out for training tomorrow and am looking to purchase some self-defense items. Do you have any suggestions? The senior brother, a tall and burly man with a face covered in horizontal scars, looked intimidating enough to scare children. He seemed like someone who would be targeted by righteous heroes. The senior brother nced at Lu Yang, feeling unfamiliar with him, then realized Lu Yang was a newly recruited junior brother. Realizing that he was finally being addressed as Senior Brother, his expression softened a bit. After so many years, he was no longer the lowest-ranked disciple. How many contribution points and spirit stones do you n to use? Three hundred contribution points, no spirit stones. I am Li Dan; you can address me as Brother Li. Youre at the early stage of Foundation Building, so the items you can use arent very high level, and they wont cost too many contribution points. Despite his fierce appearance, Li Dan was actually a very warm-hearted man. Brother Li skillfully scrolled through the exchange list, introducing various protective items: The Hundred Battles Heart Protector Mirror, worn over the chest, can withstand a full-force attack from a peak Foundation Building cultivator. Only two hundred contribution points. Just as Lu Yang was considering whether to buy a life-saving item, he heard a timid voice: Junior Brother Lu, actually, you dont need to buy the Heart Protector Mirror here. The sesame cakes in the cafeteria can also withstand a full-force attack from a peak Foundation Building cultivator, and theyre even cheaper. The voice grew fainter, almost inaudible, like the buzzing of a mosquito. Had Lu Yang not been at the Foundation Building stage with heightened senses, he wouldnt have heard it. Sister Zhou Lulu? Lu Yang was surprised to encounter Zhou Lulu here. During his first month in the sect, he spent time in the scripture library, asking her for help whenever he had questions. After being confined to Heavens Gate Peak for cultivation by Yunzhi, he hadnt seen her for a year. Senior Sister. Li Dan, only one level above Lu Yang, also addressed Zhou Lulu as Senior Sister. Yes, its me. Zhou Lulus nervousness was visibly evident as she spoke. She had justpleted a mission and came to exchange her rewards, happening to run into Lu Yang. You guys continue, I was just making a small suggestion, nothing else. Zhou Lulu tried to make herself less noticeable, nning to wait until Lu Yang had finished his exchanges. Both men ignored Zhou Lulu. This is the Mountain Crushing Hammer. With a single strike, it causes a vibration effect, disrupting the rhythm of formation and talisman cultivators. Its somewhat effective against such opponents, but those proficient in formations and talismans have firm wills and can adjust their rhythm even under disturbance, so the hammers effectiveness is somewhat reduced. Two hundred and seventy contribution points. Lu Yang nodded. This seemed like a useful item, especially since he might encounter formation and talisman opponents. Aside from cultivators who had immersed themselves in these arts for decades, the Mountain Crushing Hammer was effective. Senior Sister Zhou Lulu muttered softly, The cafeterias fried dough sticks also have a simr effect. Both men pretended not to hear. Brother Li, do we have any items suitable for ambush? Brother Li replied seriously, Junior Brother, do you know that our sect is a righteous one? So? You should ask that question quietly. Lu Yang nodded in understanding. Brother Li pressed down on the list and scrolled rapidly, timing his selection perfectly, and continued introducing: This is the Jade Shattering Needle, thin as a cows hair and extremely sharp when imbued with spiritual energy. It can prate protective barriers but is difficult to master and expensive. This is the Qimen Spike. When facing a powerful enemy, take a handful and throw it towards their seven orifices for a surprise attack. Easy to use and reasonably priced. Lu Yang nodded. This item was indeed inexpensive and seemed quite valuable for its price. The cafeterias rice is more useful than this. Senior Sister Zhou Lulu reminded. Brother Li could no longer tolerate Zhou Lulus whispers. He turned around abruptly, startling her. Zhou Lulu bowed her head, not daring to look at Li Dans scarred face. She had no intention of causing trouble, but the cafeterias items were genuinely useful. She wanted to rmend them directly to Lu Yang but was too shy. Seeing Zhou Lulus reaction, Li Dan realized she meant no harm and softened his tone: Senior Sister Zhou, I know youre from Hundred Refinements Peak, but you shouldnt harm a new junior brother just to drum up business for Hundred Refinements Peak! And think about it, Junior Brother Lu. Aside from the cafeteria food being cost-effective, sturdy, multifunctional, usable as both a weapon and food, what other benefits are there? Lu Yang: Arent these benefits enough? Li Dan thought about it and realized that aside from not being designed forbat, the cafeteria food indeed had no drawbacks. Why dont you, Senior Sister Zhou, take Junior Brother Lu to the cafeteria for a tour? Zhou Lulus eyes lit up, and she quickly dragged Lu Yang towards the cafeteria. Lu Yang realized that Senior Sister Zhou had incredible strength, unable to break free from her grasp. He wondered what her cultivation level was. Senior Sister Zhou, youre from Hundred Refinements Peak? Hundred Refinements Peak, under the fifth elder, served both as a weapon forging and cafeteria department, often blending the two functions. Yes, Im a disciple of Hundred Refinements Peak. But I often see you reading in the scripture library, and not about weapon forging? Lu Yang couldnt help but be curious. Shouldnt disciples of Hundred Refinements Peak be learning weapon forging? (End of the chapter) Chapter 40: The Cafeteria Chapter 40: The Cafeteria Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Zhou Lulu said with a troubled expression, I love reading and wanted to specialize in Confucian cultivation under the Fourth Elder, but my father insisted I choose Hundred Refinements Peak. He said the Fourth Elder has be foolish from all his reading and is not worth following. Your father is Fifth Elder Zhou Xin. Lu Yang immediately understood; Hundred Refinements Peak belonged to her family, so of course her father would want her to choose it. The main peak of Hundred Refinements Peak was a crimson mountain, towering into the clouds, looking like an erupting volcano that lit up the sky. Whether it was due to long-term weapon forging or the nature of Hundred Refinements Peak itself, the temperature here was slightly higher than in other ces. Now in early spring, Hundred Refinements Peak seemed to be in the midst of summer. Lu Yang felt a prickling sensation on his skin, as if something was trying to burrow into his body. He instinctively circted his cultivation technique, forming a thin protective membrane around himself. Zhou Lulu exined softly, Junior Brother, what youre sensing is the Qi of Metal and Earth. Due to the abundance of forged treasures at Hundred Refinements Peak, the air is filled with this Qi. Its harmless to cultivators, and youll get used to it. But your reaction is quite quick. Few people are as responsive as you. Lu Yang smiled, My cultivation technique is very effective. Lu Yang heard the nging sounds of metal, imagining a scene where a senior brother hammers a piece of fine iron, sending sparks flying in all directions, forging it into steel. Following the sound, he found himself outside the cafeteria. Hmm Lu Yang felt it was somewhat eptable. He got used to it. The entrance of the cafeteria was bustling with peopleing and going,ughing and chatting while carrying various foods, as if they were wielding broadswords and sabers, ready to embark on heroic deeds. They resembled students grabbing a meal after ss, as well as warriors stepping out of an armory. Is Li Haoran here? Lu Yang remembered that Li Haoran, a fire spirit root cultivator, was a disciple of the Fifth Elder and should be around the same cultivation level as himself. He wondered how far Li Haoran had progressed in his cultivation. Zhou Lulu shook her head, Junior Brother Li hasnt left seclusion yet and doesnt have the qualification to sell food in the cafeteria. Father says Li Haoran has great potential and needs to spend more time soaking in magma for better development. I heard that at first, Junior Brother Li screamed in the magma, but then he went silent. He must have gotten used to it. Is there a possibility that he didnt get used to it, but rather got cooked? Huh? Lu Yang thought his hot water baths were bad enough, but it seemed the senior sister had been too kind to him. He was a bit disappointed not to meet Li Haoran; they could have shared their bathing experiences. Zhou Lulu entered the noisy cafeteria, her enthusiasm dissipating without a trace. She beat a hasty retreat, speaking rapidly like a machine gun: Junior Brother Lu, the cafeterias goods are of great quality and value. You should buy them yourself. With that, Zhou Lulu vanished before Lu Yang could even see how she left. Lu Yang sighed, realizing he had to rely on himself. Freshly cooked braised fish bones, perfect for sawing trees and chopping people, tried and tested by many! Freshly baked meat buns, so tough you cant even kick or punch through them! Come and see, noodles tougher than steel bars, perfect for tying up people. Buy now and get a free binding tutorial! The cafeteria resembled a mundane market, with vendors shouting to sell their food. The only difference was that it was much noisier than a regr market since the vendors were cultivators with powerful voices. Lu Yang saw a senior brother holding a braised fish bone, its bones as sharp as des, leaving deep wounds like a vicious shark bite. The senior brother enthusiastically promoted, Junior Brother, how about a fish bone? These are from fish demons of the Bi Bo Pond, with the strength of peak Foundation Building in life. Their bones are extremely tough. I spent a long time refining these few bones. They can be used as weapons in battle and as food when hungry. After speaking, he bit into a fish bone, showcasing his specially refined teeth. Lu Yang looked at the useful fish bone and then at the price. Well, he couldnt afford it. Seeing Lu Yangs apologetic smile, the senior brother didnt press further and continued to sell to others. Lu Yang watched another senior brother take a fried dough stick out of the oil, draining the excess oil. Junior Brother, would you like one? There are ones for Foundation Building stage and also for Golden Core stage. The Foundation Building version is only one hundred and fifty contribution points. In terms of price, it was indeed cheaper than the Mountain Crushing Hammer from the exchange list, which was two hundred and seventy contribution points. The dough stick was almost half the price. My dough sticks are not just tough. They contain triple hidden forces. When you strike, the three forces erupt together, creating an astonishing power and catching the enemy off guard. If youre hungry and want to eat, thats fine too. They have a long shelf life. After saying this, the senior brother took a bite. The triple forces exploded in his mouth, causing it to puff up slightly, but nothing else happened. Senior Brother, Im new here and dont understand some things. Why can these dough sticks be used as both weapons and food? Can we really bite them? The senior brother recognized Lu Yangs cultivation stage. Since he was a new Foundation Building disciple, it was normal for him to have questions. This is a way to train and test ones physical cultivation. Physical cultivation involves internal cultivation of organs and bones and external cultivation of skin and orifices. Only then can one be considered a true physical cultivator. Besides, teeth are also an essential part. I heard that some physical cultivators only focus on cultivating their muscles, bones, and skin to the extreme. With a single strike, they can make mountains tremble, truly outstanding. But when facing these invulnerable cultivators, others get frustrated ande up with a solution. Whats the solution? They use magic spells like the Minor Body Transformation to shrink themselves and attack these physical cultivators from the inside. Since these cultivators havent trained their internal organs, they are easily defeated. Such people cant be considered true physical cultivators, perhaps more like unconventional physical cultivators. The senior brother clicked his teeth, producing a metallic nging sound. They, as weapon forgers, were half physical cultivators. Their bodies were not as strong as true physical cultivators, but they had trained both internally and externally. Ordinary cultivators use magical treasures as weapons, but for physical cultivators, their bodies are their strongest weapons. Since their bodies are the strongest weapons, eating something like a dough stick isnt difficult. Lu Yang understood. The cafeterias food was extremely functional, serving two purposes. One was as a weapon for non-physical cultivators like himself, and the other as food for physical cultivators. Meng Jingzhou, who is a disciple of the Third Elder, is a genuine physical cultivator. He should be able to bite through it. Thinking this, Lu Yang bought a dough stick and swung it around a few times. It was quite heavy, giving a substantial feeling. (End of the chapter) Chapter 41: Departure Chapter 41: Departure Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang once again arrived at the stall selling meat buns. The seller was a senior sister, skilled in the art of dough fermentation, awakening, kneading, and shaping, her proficiency honed over countless hours. She would pull the dough into small lumps, using her hands, wrists, arms, and torso employing her whole bodys strength to knead the dough into the shape of buns. Her movements seemed to convey a certain principle; it was not merely kneading dough but also a way to exercise body coordination. The senior sister ced the bun nks on the forging table, wielding arge hammer to fiercely beat them, producing loud ngs as sparks flew in all directions, burning small holes in the ground. As the bun nks were quenched, cold water instantly boiled, bubbling up, and soon a meat bun was ready. Lu Yang was amazed, finding Bai Lian Peak truly innovative for seamlessly integrating culinary arts with weapon forging. Give me a meat bun. The cafeterias offerings were indeed affordable. Lu Yang encountered many eye-catching items here, and he would have bought them all if not for the limited contribution points. The next morning, Lu Yang met up with two others at the gate of Dao Seeking Sect as arranged. Weve been waiting for you. Meng Jingzhou waved at Lu Yang, standing behind a carriage that was the same one that had taken them to Dao Seeking Sect, with the same old horse. The only difference was that the third person had changed from the eldest sister Yunzhi to Barbarian Bone. Barbarian Bone, who studied diligently, was learning even while waiting. His broad Confucian robe covered his muscles, making him indeed look like a tall schr. Arent we taking the flying boat? Lu Yang had prepared to take the flying boat, knowing his teleportation technique was convenient but not as fast as flying. He temporarily gave up learning the teleportation technique to focus on mastering shorter distances and finer control. Meng Jingzhou patted the carriage, proudly saying, This carriage is a treasure, containing a spatial array. Though it feels slow to us inside, to outsiders, its as fast as a flying boat. Thinking about it, Meng Jingzhous journey from the imperial city to Dao Seeking Sect couldnt have been made step by step by the old horse; it would take a year to reach Dao Seeking Sect that way. The carriage used the array on the way to Dao Seeking Sect to speed up, only slowing down near the sect as a sign of respect. What Lu Yang had seen before was the carriage already slowed down. The three boarded the carriage, which was as spacious as ever. Only today did Lu Yang realize the true value of this carriage. By the way, where are we going? Whats the mission? Eh, I havent told you? Were going to a ce called Qinghuai County. The specifics should be exined by Brother Barbarian Bone, as he found the mission. Barbarian Bone ced a bookmark in his book, closed it, and spoke deliberately. I heard of this task while on a mission. A merchant leader, knowledgeable about many things unknown tomoners, shared a story circted among merchants, which seems credible. Between Qinghuai County and Yanjiang County lies a vast range of mountains. Merchants wishing to cross must be led by local hunters. A terrifying presence appeared in the forests, forcing hunters to abandon their livelihoods Night fell, with overgrown branches blocking the moonlight, thunder roaring, and heavy rain pouring down, making the ground slippery and difficult to navigate. Seven or eight people tied together with ropes to prevent slipping and getting lost. With the sound of the rain, it would be hard to hear if someone fell. Wearing raincoats and carrying baskets, they cautiously stepped, fearing to fall into pits. The cold rain made them look disheveled. Looking up, the dense rain obscured their vision, so they followed the lead of the veteran hunter. Be careful, the mountain roads are slippery in the rain! Dont stop even if youre tired. Push on; its harder to start again if we stop now! I I cant Help me! Ive fallen! Someone slipped, falling towards the cliff without anything to hold onto. Realizing someone was missing from the end of the rope, they stopped and frantically pulled the person up. Ah Yue, hold on tight, lets pull together! I have no strength left. Ah Yue hung off the cliff, saved by the rope around his waist. He was too exhausted and hungry to exert any effort, struggling to climb up. The experienced hunter calmly directed the rescue, personally helping to pull the person up. Some of you hold onto the tree, dont let us all fall! The rest, wrap the rope around your wrists, and on my count of three, pull! Three, two, one, pull! Three, two, one, pull! After much effort, they managed to pull Ah Yue up, leaving everyone too exhausted to stand. The hunter didnt rx. He checked Ah Yue for injuries, asking, How did you fall? Did you feel someone push you? Ah Yue shook his head in confusion, not understanding why the hunter would ask such a question. What do you mean by that? Qi Wu asked, sensing something was off in the hunters question. The hunter pointed to a dpidated temple ahead, Lets hurry. Well talk at the mountain god temple. The heavy rain wasnt the right setting for discussions. Qi Wu nodded, encouraging everyone to reach the temple for shelter. Arriving at the temple, they carelessly removed their raincoats, sat down, and quickly checked their belongings for water damage, which would mean a wasted journey. Good thing we wrapped them in waterproof cloth. Qi Brother is foresighted. The temple, while not in great condition, provided ample shelter. Three old, dusty statues of mountain gods stood in the center, surrounded by mud and dung. The ques bearing the gods names were missing, offerings long consumed by wild animals, doors and windows broken, letting in the cold wind. The merchants didnt mind; any shelter from the rain was wee. Qi Wu offered some goods as tributes to the three mountain gods, thankful for the shelter provided by the temple. The three statues, though crudely sculpted, were distinguishable: the central god wielded a gentlemans sword with a righteous face, nked by one in schrly robes with a book and another emanating pure yang energy, indicating their respective literary and martial roles. May the mountain gods ensure our journey is safe. Qi Wu felt the statues possessed a certain liveliness, almost as if they were alive. (End of the chapter) Chapter 42: The Gap Between Legend and Reality Chapter 42: The Gap Between Legend and Reality Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After offering tributes to the mountain gods, Qi Wu hurriedly gathered everyone together. Drenched, the cold wind made them shiver. Well get sick if this continues. The old hunter went to a corner, brought out a handful of firewood, and with a toothy grin said, We hunters sometimes take shelter here from the rain, so weve left some firewood in advance for times like this. Qi Wu was overjoyed: Then were much obliged. The hunter waved it off: Its nothing. Living in the mountains is all about helping each other. Once the rain stops tomorrow, well just gather some more firewood to rece it. Everyone quickly piled the firewood on the ground where a fire had been made before. Qi Wu lit a twig with a fire talisman and gently blew on it until the dry wood caught fire. Watching the mes rise and feeling its warmth, someone sighed deeply. Finally, I feel alive again. Qi Brother, would you like a yellow or white rice cake? One of each? As someone distributed the dry food, they all toasted their rations by the fire. After bringing out the fragrance, Ah Yue produced a jar of pickles, spreading it on the cakes. Biting into it, the salty and savory taste filled their mouths. Ah Yue, your pickle-making skills are excellent. You should consider opening a pickle shop instead of following us merchants. Ah Yue just smiled, saying nothing. Recalling the previous incident, Qi Wu asked, Old Sun, why did you ask Ah Yue if someone pushed him down? Qi Wu and the others were first-time mountain trekkers aiming to cross to sell goods in Qinghuai County. After a long search, they finally found a local old hunter to guide them. The hunters expression turned serious: Have you ever heard of a vengeful ghost? Qi Wu and the others looked serious. Having traveled far and wide, they were aware of ghostly matters, and one of them even eximed, You mean the vengeful ghost that assists tigers? The hunter nodded, speaking softly: This mountain is called Song Mountain. About ten years ago, a hunter went hunting and vanished, leaving only a shoe behind. People then began saying a tiger demon had eaten him. At first, people were reluctant to believe it, thinking how could a tiger demon appear where they had lived for generations? But as time went on, someone said their hunting dog barked furiously at something, and when he looked in that direction, he was petrified. It was a majestic tiger, four meters in length. The tiger leaped at the hunting dog, and he ran for his life, luckily escaping the tigers pursuit! People also noticed others disappearing from time to time, so they reported it to Qinghuai County. The officials then sent me to Yanjiang County, arguing that since Song Mountain was closer to Yanjiang and we only sold our game there, it should fall under their jurisdiction. In Yanjiang County, the officials imed Song Mountain belonged to Qinghuai County. After several back-and-forths, each side sent two monks to search for the tiger demon on Song Mountain. After ten days without finding a single tiger hair, the monks thought we were making fools of them, wasting their time. We tried exining that the tiger demon might be hiding from them, but they left in a huff without listening. We went back to the officials, but they ignored us. Left with no choice, most people left Song Mountain to find other ways to live, leaving only a few of us old folks who knew nothing but hunting. Weter discovered that during hunts, wed encounter those missing travelers. They would appear and disappear unpredictably, sometimes pushing us. Sometimes when I led people into the mountains, these travelers would pretend to stumble upon us and ask to join, suggesting we were going the same way. How could I agree? I hurriedly led people away. The elders used to say that the world contains vengeful ghosts, turned into such by the tiger demon after killing them, to help it find more prey, luring people to be new vengeful ghosts.'' But dealing with vengeful ghosts is straightforward; just refuse their requests, and they wont harm you. Qi Wu suddenly realized why it was so hard to find hunters in such a vast forest; they were forced away by the tiger demon. Seeing Ah Yue hesitating, Qi Wu encouraged him to ask anything. Ah Yue, feeling a bit embarrassed at first, decided to ask: Do these vengeful ghost include female ghosts? Are they beautiful? Do they seduce men or drain their yang energy? Could I possibly start a forbidden romance, eluding the tiger demons pursuit and wandering the world with her? With each question Ah Yue asked, question marks popped up over everyones heads, including the old hunters. Feeling embarrassed by the reaction, Ah Yue scratched his head: Ive read such stories in novels, like A Chinese Ghost Story, where the love between a human and a ghost remains unfulfilled. After a moment of silence, Qi Wu patted Ah Yues shoulder: Maybe read a little less. Then Qi Wu asked, Old Sun, why not report this to the Five Great Immortal Sects? They uphold justice and surely wouldnt ignore this. The Five Great Immortal Sects? The hunter looked puzzled, unfamiliar with the term. It refers to Dao Seeking Sect, Hanging Temple, and three other major righteous sects, the most powerful on the continent. I might have heard the name, the hunter said uncertainly, unsure if it was from a teahouse at the mountains base, a passing traveler, or something he heard when younger or older. He couldnt remember. In reality, themon folk knew little about cultivators, only finding the topic intriguing. And stories passed down orally often distort easily, bing quite different from the truth by the time they reach themon people, making them unreliable. For instance, Qi Wu heard that Dao Seeking Sects name, meaning inquiring about the Dao, implies the vast and obscure path to immortality, where cultivation is also about cultivating the heart, constantly questioning ones path, whether its righteous or demonic, and not losing ones true self. Once Qi Wu met a disciple from Dao Seeking Sect, named Dai Bufan, and asked him why it was called Dao Seeking Sect. Dais response is still clear in his memory. You ask about that? It involves our founding ancestor, Xiantian Daoist. To find a feng shui treasurend, he paid a hefty sum for someone from Heavens Mysteries Sect to calcte and locate it, finding and blessed by all directions feng shui. He was told to establish the sect at a specific time and ce for it to prosper. However, our ancestor had a poor sense of direction. Despite markers, he got lost and had to ask a local farmer for directions, which led him to the sects location without dy. To thank the farmer, he named the sect Dao Seeking Sect. (TL Note: or Dao The word for this concept, dao, indicates a way in the sense of a road or a path in cultivation. However, in this context, he was seeking the way to go to the sects location.) (End of the chapter) Chapter 43: Your Mountain God Grandfather Chapter 43: Your Mountain God Grandfather Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii So, is the Dao Seeking Sect very powerful? the old hunter asked. Its not Dao Seeking *Er* Sect, its Dao Seeking Sect, Qi Wu corrected the old hunters pronunciation. Once we reach Qinghuai County tomorrow, well write a letter and send it to the Five Great Immortal Sects, asking for their assistance, Qi Wu mentioned, having inquired about the process when he met Dai Bufan. At that time, he was reflecting on how the local officials, with little cultivation, held themselves in such high regard, while the disciples from the Immortal Sects, not involved in the mortal world, were much more approachable. However, Qi Wu was unaware of Dai Bufans status and cultivation level within the Dao Seeking Sect, treating him as a typical disciple of the Immortal Sects. Had he known Dai Bufans identity and cultivation level, his feelings would have been more than just reflective. The old hunter was overjoyed and quickly thanked Qi Wu and the others, even saying that if they could resolve the tiger demon issue, he wouldnt charge them for the journey. Qi Wu hurriedly insisted that was not necessary. It wasnt that they didnt want to save money, but they were unsure if the old hunter was just being polite or sincere. Excuse me, I encountered heavy rain on my journey and wonder if I could stay here for the night? A graceful figure broke through the rain curtain. She was dressed in a green lotus skirt, her brows slightly furrowed with sorrow,pelling an involuntary desire to grant her request. Everyone turned to look at Ah Yue, thinking, Now that youve mentioned a female ghost, one really shows up. Is your mouth blessed? No! Qi Wu immediately refused the request of the green-dressed girl. Given their location, far from any vige or shop, and the sudden appearance of such a beautiful woman in the deep mountains and old forests, recalling what the old hunter had said, he couldnt help but be suspicious. Most crucially, the girl in green was dry! With the rain pouring down as if the heavens were unleashing water, how could she be dry? The green-dressed girl looked slightly angry, feeling that these seemingly educated men were being quite rude. How unreasonable of you. Not to mention this mountain god temple has no owner, you are merely seeking shelter from the rain. With the heavy rain outside, do you expect me to keep using my technique to block the rain?! Technique? Youre a cultivator? Qi Wu became cautious. Most cultivators treated mortals kindly, but it was unpredictable what they might do if provoked. He hesitated. However, the old hunter remained firm, drawing on his years of experience living in the mountains, he felt there was something off about the green-dressed girl, though his tone was much more polite: Esteemed cultivator, whether youre a cultivator or a woman, staying with us eight men in a temple would not look good. Heres what well do: theres a path to the north leading to a hut we hunters built on the mountainside. For someone of your stature, its just a few steps away. The old hunter wasnt lying; there indeed was a hut there, but it was too small to amodate them all, which is why he led Qi Wu and the others to the mountain god temple for shelter. After thinking it over, the green-dressed girl realized the old hunter made sense. Though she was a woman who didnt stick to conventions while roaming the martial world, if there was a better option, why stay in a temple leaking from all sides? After the green-dressed girl left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, fearing she might transform into a fierce tiger and devour them. Alright, lets sleep. We need to get up early tomorrow to continue our journey. I really dont want toe to this ghostly ce a second time, Qi Wu said, yawning, his eyelids fighting to stay open. Qi Wu originally wanted to sleep facing inward, towards the mountain god statues, feeling something was off about them and not wanting to get too close. Instead, he arranged for everyone to sleep with their heads towards the door. After arranging two people to keep watch at night, everyone fell asleep. After everyone was asleep, the mountain god statues eyes moved, their gaze lowering to look at the sleeping figures. Unnoticed by anyone. Ah Yue yawned, his eyes blurry, as if he was about to fall asleep at any moment, he and another person were on the first watch. So sleepy, I really want to sleep. Hold on a bit longer, you heard it too, its not safe in these mountains Right, I cant sleep, Im still waiting for a female ghost to sneak up on me. Youre average-looking, didnt you read in the books that female ghosts prefer handsome men? They should sneak up on me instead. Female ghosts like schrs, youve only read a few days worth of books. They prefer someone like me, who has extensively read the ssics. The two quietly argued over the hypothetical female ghost, growing more animated as they spoke. Suddenly, a deep roar broke through the sound of the rain and thunder, sending shivers down their spines. Just as they doubted whether it was an illusion, another deep roar sounded, closer this time! Its that tiger demon! The two exchanged looks, seeing the fear in each others eyes. Everyone up, theres a demon! Ah Yue quickly shouted. Everyone woke from their sleep, gripping their weapons tightly, staring out the temple door, sweating profusely and trembling. The roaring ceased, reced by heavy breathing, easily conjuring images of the massive creature responsible. A shadow loomed in the rain, growingrger, filling everyone with dread. A massive tigers head emerged from the rain, approaching the mountain god temple. Qi Wu could even see the fur on the tigers head, each strand clear! The tiger demon entered the temple fully, revealing itself to be a four-meter-long tiger, causing everyone to sweat even more. The tiger demon stood up on its hind legs! What do we do now, Old Sun? Qi Wu whispered, knowing the wooden sticks they held were no match for the tiger demon. Unexpectedly, the old hunter walked straight up to the tiger demon, bowed, and said, Please enjoy your meal, Tiger Lord. Hmm, well done, the tiger demon spoke humannguage, its cultivation level unknown. Qi Wu was furious, wishing he could tear the old hunter apart. The green-dressed girl wasnt the ghost; the old hunter who had been with them all along was! The tiger demon smiled mockingly, I didnt want to eat you originally, as too many deaths might attract outside attention. But you forced my hand by nning to inform the Five Great Immortal Sects about me. I cannot let you live! With that, the tiger demon pinned down the old hunter with a paw: And you, always running your mouth, telling stories, forcing me to clean up after you, and now you want me to kill you again? The old hunter pleaded for mercy, promising not to do it again. The tiger demon snorted: You drove away that female cultivator, which counts as a merit. Your actions cancel out your faults, so I wont punish you this time! The tiger demon didnt y with its prey. It examined Qi Wu closely, making a throaty sound as if holding back phlegm: Youre the smartest one here. If you agree to join me, I can turn you into a ghost, neither dead nor alive. By now, Qi Wu was fearless, pointing at the old hunter with a coldugh: To wander around harming others like him? Id rather die! Not willing to toast, then drink the forfeit! The tiger demon had never been insulted like this before, bing enraged, its roar causing the temple roof to tremble as if it would copse. The tiger demon stopped persuading and lunged at everyone with its jaws wide open. Qi Wu closed his eyes, waiting for death. At that moment, a gentlemans sword appeared between the tiger demon and Qi Wu, its sword light shining bright as the morning sun, dazzling and shing the tiger demons cheek. Who!? the tiger demon roared in anger. Your mountain god grandfather! (End of the chapter) Chapter 44: A Gentleman Hides His Tools Within Chapter 44: A Gentleman Hides His Tools Within Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Qi Wu and the others watched in disbelief as the y statue of the mountain god came to life, wielding a sword to expel the demon! The mountain god has shown his spirit! Ah Yue said dumbfoundedly. Qi Wu reacted the fastest: No, theres someone hiding inside the statue! Indeed, as the sword-wielding mountain god fought with the tiger demon, clumps of y fell away, revealing the true face of the person hidden within. It was Lu Yang. Damn it, Ive waited five days for you! It wasnt in vain that I pretended to be a statue for five days. Take my sword! Lu Yang said fiercely, kicking out. For someone as quick-witted as him, who enjoyed roaming around, it was extremely difficult to stay motionless inside a statue for five days to avoid detection by the tiger demon. Before the others could react, the literary and martial mountain god statues also came to life: Lu Yang, we will lend you a hand! Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone broke free from their y encasements, disying their magical powers to eliminate the tiger demon. Five days earlier, the mountain god temple weed three uninvited guests. They took pills that allowed them to fast, hollowed out the mountain god statues, and climbed inside. The statues were several sizesrger than an average person, easily fitting one inside. Are you sure this will work? Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone skeptically asked Lu Yang. Based on the information provided by Brother Barbarian Bone, our only option is to lie in wait for the tiger demon toe Lets go inside first. Barbarian Bone pondered, was this what the books meant by a gentleman hides his tools within himself? Exactly, exactly. This must be the meaning. Indeed, one must travel ten thousand miles after reading ten thousand books. Barbarian Bone was overjoyed. He had never understood the meaning of this phrase until now, after undertaking a mission with Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, achieving such enlightenment. The master was right; to learn well, one must first find a good role model! The three chose their respective statues, entered them, and maintained the same posture as the statues, only their eyes visible. Hey, can you hear me? Lu Yangmunicated using telepathy. Telepathy was a spell the trio had just learned on the road. At close range, it required no spiritual energy, relying on thoughts alone formunication. It was easy to learn and use with a bit of mental training. I can hear you, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone replied. Is the carriage alright? Meng Jingzhou worried about their carriage and old horse. To avoid attracting the tiger demons attention, they had left the carriage with an inn in Yanjiang County. We know too little about the tiger demon. What we can be sure of is that its realm is between the early stages of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core. Its cunning and cautious, fearing injury to cultivators might bring trouble, so it only preys on mortals, not cultivators. If cultivators search the mountain, it hides away, impossible to find. In other words, it avoids conflict with cultivators at all costs, preferring to hide. The tiger demons long undetected presence on Song Mountain was due to its non-confrontational approach. We need to hide in advance and eliminate it once it appears! Tiger demons are sensitive to spiritual energy. We must not use any during our wait. Thats why they chose telepathy, which doesnt require spiritual energy. Five dayster. Goodness, after waiting so many days, someone finally shows up. Looks like a merchant? Wait, why is there an old hunter? Wasnt it said that due to the tiger demon, all hunters had left Song Mountain? They had thoroughly investigated Song Mountain, where locals said hunters had long since left, no longering down to sell hides. Ghost! The threemunicated through telepathy, instantly concluding that this was not a guide but a ghost luring people here! Initially skeptical about the tiger demon, the presence of the ghost confirmed its existence on the mountain. Did you hear the old hunter? He said he lived with other hunters, and the merchant leader found him there. Its probably not a lie. Its likely those hunters are also ghosts, posing as normal people to deceive travelers, making their story more credible and avoiding suspicion of being ghosts! Should we deal with the ghost now? Meng Jingzhou was eager to act. Lu Yang asked Meng Jingzhou to hold back, analyzing, Dont startle the snake. Did you hear Qi Wu saying hed seek help from the Five Great Immortal Sects? Given the tiger demons cautious nature, it will surelye to deal with them. Lets wait quietly. Once the tiger demon appears, Ill act, and you cover me, meanwhile getting these merchants away from here. Alright. Did you hear the footsteps outside the temple? Its probably not the tiger demon. Hearing Qi Wu and the old hunter nning to send away the green-dressed girl, Barbarian Bone couldnt help but murmur, How foolish. With the female cultivator here, the tiger demon wouldnt dare to kill. It fears its existence being known. Killing her would lead her sect to retaliate; not killing her would lead her sect here anyway, a dead end either way. The only solution is to send the female cultivator away. See, I was right, the ghost sent her away. Lu Yang was more calm: On the contrary, with the female cultivator here, the tiger demon wouldnt appear. How long would we have to wait? Meng Jingzhou suddenly eximed, Did you notice the jade pendant on the green-dressed girls waist? Whats with the pendant? Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone knew many pendants symbolized identity but werent clear on the specifics. Thats a token from the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce. Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, one of the Five Great Immortal Sects. A continuous snow mountain stretches east-west between the Central Continent and the far north, perennially covered in snow, rarely seeing sunny days. Known as the highest peak in the Central Continent, its closest to the moon. Within the snow mountains lies a magnificent immortal pce, the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce. She must be at the Foundation Establishment stage. When we fight the tiger demon, lets make as much noise as possible to alert her, and see if shes willing to help. The opponent was definitely not at the Golden Core stage; a cultivator of that level from the immortal sect would have immediately seen through the old hunter as a ghost, unlike now, being deceived. After a while, the three watched as Qi Wu and the others fell into a deep sleep, envying their peaceful rest. Barbarian Bone recited sage quotations to fight off sleepiness: The sage says, I examine myself thrice a day. Are you sleepy? Im not sleepy. Are you sleepy? Im not sleepy Stop reciting; youre making me sleepy even though I wasnt, Meng Jingzhou asked Barbarian Bone to recite silently, unable to resist yawning. But I am reciting silently, Barbarian Bone replied using telepathy. Listen carefully! Lu Yang ignored their banter, forcing himself to stay alert to any sounds outside. Theres something stepping on the grass the tiger demon is here! Hearing Lu Yangs alert, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone stopped bickering, immediately bracing for battle. Finally, this beast shows up! Lu Yang no longer concealed his presence, his body shaking the mountain god statue to pieces, holding the Qingfeng Sword with glowing sword light, illuminating the entire temple. (End of the chapter) Chapter 45: Don't Underestimate the Dough Stick as a Weapon Chapter 45: Dont Underestimate the Dough Stick as a Weapon Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang, holding a sword in one hand, grabbed Qi Wu by the neck with the other and threw him backward: Theres a door behind, run for it! In the blink of an eye, Qi Wu was thrown three or four meters away. Just as he was about to hit the ground, an invisible force lifted his body, allowing him tond steadily. Thank you, immortal, for saving me! He immediately ran outside with Ah Yue and the others without any hesitation. They couldnt ascertain the cultivation levels of Lu Yang and the tiger demon. They only knew that in a cultivators battle, regardless of the oue, it would affect the surroundings. With their mortal bodies, getting involved could mean spending the rest of their lives either bedridden or buried. The tiger demons fur stood on end, and the king character on its forehead glowed slightly, aiming to tear Lu Yang apart with even more ferocity. Ill help you! The other two mountain god statues made noise. One held a book, looking schrly, while the other radiated light, resembling a high monk with an indestructible golden body! Barbarian Bone felt his book was too light. He put it away and pulled out two copies of the Great Xia Dictionary from his bosom. Feels right. Barbarian Bone had been taught from a young age that the barbarian race was a warrior race, not limited to the form of their weapons. Anything could be your weapon; use whatever is handy. Now, the handiest thing was a book. Knowledge is power! Holding two dictionaries like bricks, he smacked them against the tiger demons forehead, leaving the demon stunned, having never seen such a weapon. Meng Jingzhou didnt need any weapon. His body was his strongest weapon. He transformed into a golden figure, charging at the tiger demon. The ghost behind the tiger demon screamed, beginning to smoke. Pure Yang spiritual root was especially effective against ghosts! The ghost, terrified, no longer obeyed the tiger demonsmands, fleeing the temple and disappearing into the rain. The tiger demon had never been as angry as it was today. It didnt want to conflict with cultivators, but that didnt mean it was afraid of them. It could easily tear these na?ve youngsters to pieces and escape elsewhere, wondering who could find it. What a pity to leave such a feng shui treasure like Song Mountain. Thinking thus, the tiger demon didnt hold back. Its tail swept towards Lu Yang with a howling sound, and if Lu Yang continued his attack, he would undoubtedly be seriously injured! Lu Yang made a split-second decision, withdrawing his sword and retreating as the tigers tail smashed into the ground, shaking the entire temple. The three had grave expressions: It has already condensed a Golden Core phantom! To form a Golden Core, one first needs to condense a phantom of the Golden Core. The core transforms from phantom to reality, officially entering the Golden Core stage. The tiger demon in front of them was clearly in the process of forming its Golden Core, its strength extraordinary! I am a half-step Golden Core stage powerhouse, and you, mere Foundation Establishment youngsters, dare to harm me! Half-step Golden Core? Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou, having never heard this term from the eldest sister. Theyman Meng Jingzhou exined: It means not yet having formed a Golden Core but always thinking highly of oneself, notparable to Foundation Establishment, but trying to bump up to Golden Core stage. Golden Core cultivators dont even take them seriously, quite pitiful. The kind-hearted Barbarian Bone added: Its normal for Brother Lu not to know. Our sect elders disdain this term. Forming a Golden Core doesnt need transitioning from phantom to reality; vulgar people do that. They directly form the core. The honest Lu Yang pitied the tiger demon: Indeed pitiful. The tiger demon grew even angrier, its eyes bloodshot. Its proud cultivation was belittled to nothing by these three youngsters. And the worst part was that they genuinely believed it! The tiger demon released its pressure, trying to suppress the three. Unexpectedly, none of them were affected. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou even scoffed: Weve endured the pressure of a Nascent Soul stage great demon with ancient dragon blood. How could we be affected by you? Barbarian Bone, with his ancient barbarian blood, feared no pressure. The barbarians were domineering in ancient times because they feared nothing. Highlighting their barbarism. The tiger demon gave up imitating the human stance of standing on two legs, lowering its front limbs to the ground, its chin close to the ground, and its tiger eyes fixedly waiting for the three. Boom The tiger demons hind legs pushed off forcefully, like a cannonball, smashing hard towards the three. With the Green Edge Sword in front, Lu Yang barely blocked the tiger demons ws. Lu Yang spun and retreated, dissipating the tiger demons force. Unlike the previous Painted Skin ghost, whose advantagey in strangeness and wasnt adept at attack, making it easy to defeat once its identity was revealed, the tiger demon was different. Demons are known for their physical bodies. Its not to say the tiger demons cultivation was almost a whole level above the three; it was remarkable that Lu Yang could block the attack without injury. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, one on each side, attacked from both sides. The tiger demons blood runes flickered, transforming into a gust of wind, flying above them and striking down hard. Clouds follow the dragon, winds follow the tiger; tiger demons naturally control wind spells, an innate spell from their bloodline! Meng Jingzhou, unable to leverage in the air, met the tiger demons palm. Barbarian Bone protected his chest with the dictionary, half of it shredded by the tiger demons w. Lu Yang seized the opportunity to thrust his sword forward relentlessly, the de striking like lightning, instantly reaching the tiger demon. He stabbed several times, but the tiger demons thick fur made it impossible for Lu Yangs sword to prate. Just as the tiger demon was about tough at Lu Yangs overestimation, several bursts of sword energy exploded within it where Lu Yang had struck, causing it to bleed profusely. Hidden sword energy! Lu Yang didnt need to pierce through; his aim was to inject sword energy into the opponent! This is where demons fall shortpared to physical cultivators; their external bodies are formidable, but their internal organs and blood are extremely fragile! The tiger demon retreated, unwilling to sh directly with Lu Yangs sword any longer. Unexpectedly, Lu Yang was relentless. The tiger demon dodged his right-handed sword strike, but Lu Yangs left hand brought out a dough stick, striking the tiger demons head with it! The tiger demon could have dodged, but seeing the dough stick, it let its guard down, chuckling at Lu Yangs childishness, using anything at hand in desperation. Then it was stunned. What kind of dough stick was this? Meng Jingzhou transformed into a mountain, seizing the few seconds the tiger demon was dazed to ram into its waist. The tiger demon appeared cunning and experienced, but it was full of ws. It adhered to a non-fighting principle, preferring to run than fight, having barely engaged inbat throughout its cultivation. The tiger demon staggered from the impact. Barbarian Bone struck, aiming for the eyes. The tiger demon hurriedly turned its head, getting hit on the cheek instead, losing a patch of fur. The tiger demon instinctively swung its tail, hitting Barbarian Bone, who deftly dodged, barely injured. Lu Yang thrust several times with his sword, supplementing with a few hits from the dough stick, forcing the tiger demon to retreat continuously. After the exchange, the three gained the upper hand. The tiger demon realized, despite their young age and lower cultivation, they disyed profound foundations, surely backed by a powerful force, and began to think of retreating. The three were not about to let the tiger demon escape. Releasing it today meant untold harm tomorrow. It couldnt be allowed to flee! Dont push me too far! The tiger demon roared, furious beyond measure. The three sensed the tiger demons desperation and braced themselves. The tiger demons eyes bulged, roaring towards the temple entrance, using itsst resort: Wife, theyre trying to kill me! (End of the chapter) Chapter 46: The Ten Bulls Strength Pill! Chapter 46: The Ten Bulls Strength Pill! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Before the trio could react, they heard the sound of trees copsing in the rain, as if something was rushing towards them through the rain. Boom Therge object in the rain didnt slow down and directly crashed into a wall of the mountain god temple, putting the temple at risk of copse! A colorful fierce tiger, slightly smaller than the tiger demon, stood in front of the three. Despite its smaller size, it gave off an even more ferocious vibe! There were a male and a female tiger in this mountain! This was something nobody expected. There was too little information about the beasts of Song Mountain. Before this, it was uncertain whether there were any demon ns hiding here, let alone two of them. Wife, lets go together, the male tiger demon said. The female tiger demon, only slightly weaker than him with ate Foundation Establishment cultivation, made them confident in facing the three humans. Useless. The female tiger demon muttered, embarrassing the male tiger demon. The dual assault from the tigers significantly increased the pressure on the trio. Attack the one with the sword; hes the hardest to deal with, the male tiger demon roared. Meng Jingzhou was immediately dissatisfied, making his presence felt at the forefront: What do you mean? Am I inferior to him? I thought you, a demon, had some discernment, but it turns out youre not only henpecked but also cant judge the strength of your enemies. Youre disgracing the demon race. With this level, you dare to im the mountain as your king. Look at my golden body, hard and unbeatable in defense at our level. Can you break through my defense The male tiger demon paused for a moment: Attack this golden guy; hes the most annoying. The two tigers struck together, sending Meng Jingzhou flying into a wall, forming a big character. The tigers frowned, feeling that the hand feel of hitting him was off. Meng Jingzhous chest revealed a sesame pancake, fractured into four parts, with a quarter missingeaten by Meng Jingzhou himself. Honestly, it tasted good. Just as Meng Jingzhou was about to counterattack, a figure in green rushed into the temple, holding the old hunter by the neck, rapidly reciting the Rebirth Mantra, eliminating the harmful old hunter. It was the green-dressed girl who had wanted toe in for shelter from the rain. The green-dressed girl, seeing the standoff and Meng Jingzhou embedded in the wall, was slightly surprised. She had rushed here upon hearing the fight, wanting to see the situation, and encountered the old hunter in his true form. She didnt think twice before running towards this side with the old hunter, not expecting such a lively scene. Aiding a tiger. Seeing the tiger demon and the ghost, she quickly pieced together what had happened. Dao Seeking Sect, Lu Yang. Lu Yang quickly identified himself. Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, Lan Ting. The green-dressed girl and Lu Yang exchanged nces, reported their names, and quickly adjusted their mindset to join the battle. Being from two of the Five Great Immortal Sects, they were supposed to help each other. Lan Tings movements were graceful, with a white ribbon swirling around her arms, floating behind her. She moved lightly, like a fairy dancing in the moon, enchantingly beautiful. Form over substance! The female tiger demon scorned Lan Tings moves, charging to tear the deceitful human apart. Lan Ting didnt respond verbally. With a light tap of her foot and fingers together, she pointed at the female tiger demon, the white ribbon stiffening into a sword, piercing directly at the tigers forehead. The female tiger demon suffered a big loss right away but wasnt scared, scoffing, Just an early Foundation Establishment. Despite her words, the female tiger demon didnt dare to be careless. Battling with a cultivator from a great sect, a slight mistake could lead to death. Lan Ting might not defeat the female tiger demon, but she could temporarily entangle it. Meanwhile, the scene shifted back to the Dao Seeking Sect trio battling the male tiger demon. Lu Yangs swordsmanship was extremely tricky, leaving the tiger demon unable to guard effectively. Barbarian Bone took Meng Jingzhou off the wall, pushing the tiger demon back continuously. Meng Jingzhou had no thoughts on being used as a weapon. Seeing this, the tiger demons forehead king character shone brighter, and the hidden blood of the mythical Qiongqi within was stimted, elongating its fangs and ws, bing more ferocious. What luck, to have Qiongqi bloodline. Lu Yang was somewhat speechless; how many trump cards did this demon have? Was it their bad luck, or were all demons this capable? Lu Yang couldnt help but think of the great eras arrival mentioned by the eldest sister. With the arrival of the great era, all sorts of demons and ghosts would emerge to share the Central Continent. Though the tiger demons abilities were far from participating in the great eras struggles, its appearance was a minor manifestation of the great eras arrival. After stimting the Qiongqi bloodline, the tiger demonpletely lost its rationality, relying on instinct in battle, its eyes bloodshot and frenzied, but itsbat skills significantly improved. Barbarian Bones barbarian blood seemed stimted, awakening as well, swinging Meng Jingzhou with increasing force. We cant drag this out any longer. Lu Yang thought, uncertain what else the tiger demon could pull off. Better to end everything quickly. With that thought, Lu Yang flipped his palm, revealing a golden pill. It was the pill he exchanged afterpleting the Painted Skin Ghost mission, the Ten Bulls Strength Pill. Consuming this pill grants the strength of ten bulls! Although the people of Pellet Cauldron Peak were unreliable in both poison and pill making, they never skimped on the effects of their pills. This pill was undoubtedly a top contender among strength exploding pills! With his swordsmanship and the addition of ten bulls strength, let alone a trace of Qiongqi bloodline in the tiger demon, even a pure-blooded Qiongqi he would dare to fight! Seizing the moment Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou teamed up to hold the male tiger demon, Lu Yang no longer hesitated and swallowed the pill. So hot, such a burning sensation! Swallowing the pill felt like ingesting a ball of fire, his stomach burning intensely. Lu Yang closed his eyes, feeling his dantian heating up, with endless strength emerging from within, forming lines that appeared on his bodys surface. Barbarian Bone noticed Lu Yangs change; his body outlined with red lines, reminiscent of the barbarian warriors he had seen in books, daring to fight against heaven and earth. So strong! Even Barbarian Bone, a straightforward man, could feel the power emanating from Lu Yang. This power was undoubtedly invincible among Foundation Establishment cultivators. The male tiger demon attempted to stop Lu Yangs transformation but was jointly held back by Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou. Lu Yang opened his eyes, a hint of confusion in his gaze. The power indeed surged out, but it seemed all to flow outwards, leaving little within him. Red lines spread from Lu Yangs body to the ground, forming a strange circr pattern. A thick smoke rose from the ground, obscuring the view. The smoke came quickly and dissipated just as fast. After the smoke cleared, ten water buffaloes appeared before everyone. These ten water buffaloes were all at the Foundation Establishment stage! Lu Yang: ? The male tiger demon: ? Everyone present was stunned by this sudden change, unclear about what had happened. Damn your Ten Bulls Strength Pill! This wasnt a pill to enhance ones own strength at all, but a pill with an embedded summoning formation! These ten water buffaloes, as if knowing what Lu Yang summoned them for, scuffed the ground with their hooves, their eyes red, and charged at the tiger demon as one! (End of the chapter) Chapter 47: The Break Word Technique Chapter 47: The Break Word Technique Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Pellet Cauldron Peak. Our most important task as alchemists is to learn to break through the limitations of our thinking. Pills do not necessarily have to enhance the strength of those who take them, like this Ten Bulls Strength Pill Ive created, Wu Ming lectured at the Pellet Cauldron Academy, exining the principles of alchemy in a simple and understandable way. The disciples below hurriedly took notes, as these precious alchemy principles were hard toe by outside. Outside alchemists emphasize inheritance, adhering to the notion that teaching a disciple too well might starve the master, making it difficult to learn alchemy principles in the outside world. Pellet Cauldron Peak is different; they wish to teach everything they know to the new brothers and sisters. Outside alchemists stick to tradition, believing in the unchangeability of ancestral methods, hence understanding Pellet Cauldron Peaks alchemy principles is challenging. Wu Ming felt proud seeing his brothers and sisters listening intently. This years Dao Seeking Sect did not only recruit Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, Barbarian Bone, Tao Yao Ye, and Li Haoran because of their exceptional talents. They overshadowed other new disciples, making it easy to overlook them. Besides these five, there were many disciples with dual or triple spiritual roots or unique skills, forming the backbone of the future Dao Seeking Sect. Those attending the ss were new disciples who chose to study under Pellet Cauldron Peak. They have been learning the nuances of alchemy for over a year at Pellet Cauldron Peak. Many cultivators have the habit of taking pills during battle to burst forth with strength several times their own, surprising their opponent and securing victory. While victory is good, this practice can cause the multiplied strength to surge through the meridians. Meridians have their limits, and rashly impacting them can cause significant damage, even harming the foundation, which is detrimental to cultivation. Our duty as alchemists is to heal and save people, to prevent such situations as much as possible. For this, I studied hard, visited a friend skilled in summoning arrays next door, and finally created this Ten Bulls Strength Pill. The pill contains a micro summoning array. Once consumed, it uses the body as a medium to summon ten water buffaloes to aid in battle. Brother Wu, where are these ten water buffaloes summoned from? a keen and cute younger sister asked during the ss. Wu Ming smiled and replied, Theyre called from the spiritual fields. The food in the cafeteria and restaurants mostlyes from Dao Seeking Sects own spiritual fields. Growing such high-quality grains and other foods requires strict standards for soil, fertilizers, and farming methods. Working hard in the spiritual fields are the Blue-Eyed Water Buffaloes, with immense strength and powerful cultivations ranging from Qi Refinement to Nascent Soul stages, even including an old Ox King in the Soul Transformation stage, truly formidable. The Third Elder, in his younger days, once pushed aside the oxen to farm thend himself for an entire night. The oxen mentioned here belong to the Blue-Eyed Water Buffalo n. The Blue-Eyed Water Buffalo n enjoys head-butting each other with their horns. Wu Ming contacted them to see if they could be summoned for battle, and they happily agreed. As alchemists, you must think like me, put yourselves in the shoes of those who consume the pills, consider why they take pills, the side effects, and if there are better solutions. Wu Ming wrote a paper on his creation of the Ten Bulls Strength Pill and submitted it to the authoritative alchemy publication Dan Huo. The editor was shocked by Wu Mings out-of-the-box idea and forwarded it to the authoritative publication in the summoning field. It has now been sessfully published. Wu Ming knew his ideas were ahead of their time and needed to give cultivators some time to adapt. Therefore, he set the price of the Foundation-level Ten Bulls Strength Pill very low, at only a hundred contribution points. To put it in perspective, even a Dough Stick in the cafeteria costs one hundred and fifty contribution points. Wu Ming also clearly marked its effect as granting the strength of ten bulls on the exchange list, considering it very thoroughly. Lu Yang was lost in thought. To say the pill was fake, it indeed granted the strength of ten bulls, matching the description and effect without any exaggeration. But to say the pill was genuine, something felt off. What went wrong? Its hard to figure out. The ten Foundation Establishment stage water buffaloes, robust and strong, charged at the tiger demon with great momentum. Against these wild buffaloes, the tiger demon, even at half-step Golden Core stage, wouldnt dare to be hit by such a group. No matter how strong the tiger demon was, it couldnt surpass the strength of the buffalo demons. As unreliable as Pellet Cauldron Peak may seem, they never got the effects of their pills wrong. The summoned ten wild buffaloes were indeed capable of defeating the tiger demon. Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou, seeing this, unconsciously rxed. The battle was decided; the tiger demon had no chance of turning the tide. The tiger demons eyes bulged, and its fur bristled, realizing it couldnt defeat the ten water buffaloes. If so, then it would take someone down with it! Just then, with a loud crash, the mountain god temple copsed. The temple was already on the verge of falling, and a mere bump from the ten water buffaloes brought it down. For a moment, dust mixed with the heavy rain, obscuring visibility. The tiger demon seized the opportunity, leaped high with all four limbs, evading the buffalos attack, and pounced towards Lu Yang with lightning speed. This human must die! The water buffaloes, bulky and not good at jumping, failed to react to this sudden change. Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou shouted in rm, but it was toote to save Lu Yang. Everyone was panicked, except for Lu Yang, who remained calm. He had anticipated the tiger demons desperate final attack, intending to perish together with him. Trapped beasts fight most fiercely! Lu Yang didnt dodge or evade but used the spell Shrink, shrinking himself and his sword together. The tiger demon missed its target, and Lu Yang, now beneath it, resumed his size, with azure spiritual energy flowing along his sword de, all converging at the tip. Break! Lu Yang executed the Break Word Technique, his Qingfeng Sword irresistibly piercing the tiger demons thick fur. With a sound, the sword pierced the tiger demons abdomen, the bloody tip emerging from its back. This was a sword move he learned at Heavens Gate Peak. Among all sword moves, it had the strongest offensive capability, capable of depleting most of his spiritual energy and was not to be used lightly. In the battle just now, Lu Yang had pinpointed the tiger demons weakness; its abdomen was the least defended. Lu Yang released sword qi, fine as cow hair and azure in color, exploding within the tiger demon, like countless needles piercing through it. The tiger demons body crackled like fireworks, the noise traveling up its spine to the crown of its head. The tiger demon bled from all seven of its orifices, copsing to the ground. Leaning against the wall, Lu Yang, exhausted and panting heavily, signaled Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou to assist Lan Ting in eliminating the demon. The female tiger demon, seeing her husband dead, became even more ferocious, determined to fight to the death. Lan Ting was almost unable to suppress this cornered beast. Before Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou could join the new fight, the water buffalo demons turned their attention towards the female tiger demon. The female tiger demon, failing to dodge in time, was trampled into a bloody mess by the water buffaloes. The battle ended. Lan Ting opened her mouth, thinking about the various strange and unbelievable rumors about Dao Seeking Sect her sisters had mentioned. Initially skeptical, she now believed about seventy percent of them. (End of the chapter) Chapter 48: The Lair Chapter 48: The Lair Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After the battle ended and there was no more need for them, the ten water buffaloes vanished into thin air, returning to the spiritual fields. How are you feeling? Can you get up? Barbarian Bone stepped forward with concern, thoroughly impressed by Lu Yangs decisive azure sword strike that turned the tide of the battle. Although he and Meng Jingzhou assisted and injured the tiger demon, Barbarian Bone suspected that even without their help, Lu Yangs sword alone could have in the tiger demon. Lu Yang consumed a packet of Qi Recovery Powder, quickly regaining his calm breathing and steadily increasing his energy at a rate far beyond what a few Qi Recovery Powders could achieve. If I had known, I would have bought Qi Recovery Pills instead; this powder is too dry, Lu Yang muttered, operating the Condensation Technique to produce a small orb of water at his fingertips. A stream of water two fingers wide flowed into Lu Yangs mouth. Was that the Size Maniption spell you used just now? Meng Jingzhou, recognizing Lu Yang suddenly shrinking and then erging, felt the technique was familiar, resembling a spell used by an uncle in his family called Size Maniption. However, as far as he knew, that spell was extremely difficult to master, requiring a cultivation level no less than Golden Core to seed. Something like that, I used the Shrink spell. Shrink? Meng Jingzhou was puzzled, having heard of all spells known to the Meng family but finding Shrink utterly unfamiliar. Could it be a unique spell created by Elder Sister Yun Zhi? Thinking this made sense. Young Lady Lan Ting pays her respects to the three fellow Daoists, Lan Ting approached gracefully. We three are disciples of Dao Seeking Sect; this is Meng Jingzhou, and this is Barbarian Bone, Lu Yang introduced, as the situation was urgent before, and he had only introduced himself. So, you are Daoist Meng and Daoist Barbarian. It was evident that Lan Ting was well-cultured, treating everyone with courtesy. She didnt drive Qi Wu and the others away when she sought shelter in the mountain god temple from the rain. Thank you, Daoist Lan Ting, for your assistance. If not for you, dealing with both tiger demons would have been quite troublesome; perhaps we might have failed our mission, Lu Yang expressed his gratitude. This was somewhat of a polite exaggeration; they actually still had some tricks up their sleeves. So, this was your mission, Lan Ting didnt say much more, as she was also on a secret mission when she descended the mountain. Being unfamiliar with the area, she hadnt descended the mountain during the day, and encountering a rainy night, she sought shelter, only to stumble upon this incident. I have some knowledge of talismans. The tiger pelts look quite good; may I have them? Lan Ting asked. Of course, Lu Yang smiled, If Daoist Lan Ting needs anything else, feel free to take it. Tiger pelts were valuable, butpared to the help Lan Ting provided, they were less significant. Lan Ting shook her head, asking for nothing more. Barbarian Bone, having grown up in the wilderness with his parents, was well-versed in skinning, his fingers as sharp as a butchers knife. With a few swift moves, he skinned both tiger pelts intact. After receiving the tiger pelts, Lan Ting politely bid farewell to Lu Yang and the others before disappearing into the depths of the forest. Her sisters had warned her not to approach members of Dao Seeking Sect too closely until her mental fortitude was strong enough, lest she be assimted by them. Jingzhou, do you want the tiger bones and whip? Meng Jingzhou was confused: What do I need tiger bones and whip for? For virility, Lu Yang teased with a smirk. Get lost! As someone with a pure Yang spiritual root, he didnt need any enhancement. How could he bear it if he became even more vigorous? Lets properly store these two tiger demons; they are crucial evidence forpleting our mission. Lu Yang took out his identity jade token, swiped his thumb over it, and the two tiger demon corpses were collected into the token. The jade token could also be used as a storage ring. Lets go. The female tiger demon made quite amotioning here, knocking down many trees. We can follow the trail it left to find theirir. The two tiger demons had upied Song Mountain for many years, certainly having air. The heavy rain had no effect on the three, as any basic rain-avoidance spell could keep them dry. Following the trail of fallen trees and cracked boulders, it didnt take long for them to find the tiger demonsir. It was a cave about three meters high, pitch ck, with the interior invisible. Does anyone have a torch? Barbarian Bone asked, noting the darkness within the cave could conceal traps. He had read in books that such eerie caves were perfect for setting traps, like identally stepping on a brick that triggers arrows from the walls to turn someone into a hive, or suddenly releasing a cloud of poison gas, or even triggering a rolling boulder to crush intruders. Who would set up so many traps at home? Could they be worried their house is too convenient to live in? Lu Yangmented, finding Barbarian Bones thoughts to wander to odd ces. That said, a torch would indeed add to the atmosphere of exploration. Who carries a torch when going out? Meng Jingzhou scoffed, reminding them they were cultivators who could use fire spells instead of torches. Think outside the box, Lu Yang said, pulling out a deep-fried dough stick, lighting it with a spark, and soon the entire youtiao was aze, appearing to burn for a long time. Lu Yang held the burning youtiao without fear of being burnt, quite pleased with himself. Indeed, the cafeterias offerings were versatile, serving not only as food and a weapon but also as a torch. Barbarian Bone had an epiphany, realizing he could indeed learn much from Lu Yang. With the lit youtiao leading the way, Lu Yang moved ahead, followed closely by Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou. There were no traps as Barbarian Bone had imagined, only a beastsir. Merchants treasures, schrs collections of ssics and history, warriors secret martial arts manuals These items didnt need to be turned over to the sect and counted as their spoils of war. Jewelry and antiques Meng Jingzhou, with the broadest experience among them, took charge of identifying these items. A hundred-year-old teacup, not worth much. For cultivators, a century passes in the blink of an eye, a brief moment, making any household item easily over a hundred years old. In the cultivation world, antiques were the least valuable, only coveted by mortals. A rusty iron knife, what did the tiger demon keep this for, teeth sharpening? Meng Jingzhou shook his head. Lu Yang thought to himself not to underestimate a rusty iron knifea cut could lead to tetanus. Shape-Imitating Fist? I remember its a martial art from themon folk, mimicking animals? Meng Jingzhou flipped through a few pages, uninterested, and tossed it to Lu Yang. Lu Yang was somewhat interested, nning to practice it when he had time. The Sages Words Meng Jingzhou scoffed, What use do two beasts have for The Sages Words? Are they not still beasts? The Sages Words is a basic text for Confucian cultivators, containing the profound teachings of sages. Barbarian Bone knew it by heart and deeply understood its contents. Barbarian Bone took The Sages Words, not because it was particrly valuable, but because its significance was extraordinary, deserving proper respect. This was an act of reverence for the sages. Hm? Theres a letter here, addressed to the tiger demon? (End of the chapter) Chapter 49: The Demon Cult Chapter 49: The Demon Cult Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Who would write a letter to a tiger demon, especially since it has always been hiding from cultivators, not letting them know its whereabouts? The three were puzzled. Given the tiger demons cautious nature, it seemed unlikely that anyone outside the mountain should know of its existence. Read it, what does the letter say? Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat and read with emotion, Brother Tiger, it has been many days since west met, how have you beentely? Brother Tiger is cautious in his actions, unwilling to show himself, keeping his existence unknown to righteous cultivators, only targeting mortals. Such a step-by-step cultivation method has earned my admiration. However, such cultivation is ultimately slow. Now that the great era is upon us, with heroes rising and various forces eyeing the Central Continent, didnt you also seize this opportunity to leave your homnd, break away from the Qiongqi lineage, and sneak into Song Mountain from the demon realm? Be cautious you two, stop crowding me, cant I just read it to you? Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone squeezed Meng Jingzhou in the middle, trying to read the letters content directly. Youre reading too slowly. Ill read faster, now move aside. Meng Jingzhou pushed the two away and continued, Being cautious is not a big mistake, but in this reawakening great era, being bold is the only way to seize opportunities. Take a chance, purify your bloodline, and be a pure-blooded Qiongqi to stand firm in this era. I boldly suggest that Brother Tiger and his spouse join our Yanjiang Rudder, hunting cultivators as prey and plotting grand schemes together! The letter contains my token; Brother Tiger can directly bring my token to find me at Yanjiang Rudder, and I can directly rmend Brother Tiger as an enforcer. Sincerely, Qin Yuanhao. The letter was short but revealed a lot of information. Lu Yang analyzed, The letter mentions the tiger demon not letting righteous cultivators know about it, which goes against usual phrasing. Typically, righteous cultivators wouldnt be directly mentioned unless the letters author stands opposed to them. Is this Qin Yuanhao a demonic cultivator? This could also exin why some cultivators knew about the tiger demon but didnt report it. In the Central Continent, the righteous path holds absolute dominance, with demons, devils, and ghosts naturally aligning as allies. For example, the tiger demon didnt attack directly but used ghosts to lure people. With the tiger demon possessing Qiongqi bloodline and being a confirmed Golden Core stage cultivator, it made sense for a demonic cultivator to recruit it. So, Yanjiang Rudder is a demonic cult stronghold? Meng Jingzhou nodded, Demonic cults like to use geographical names for their strongholds, but its unclear which demonic cult Yanjiang Rudder belongs to. Just as righteous cultivators have the Five Great Immortal Sects, demonic cultivators have their own sects, called the Four Great Demonic Cults. Demonic cults are more like religions than sects, distinguished by whether they worship a powerful entity. The Four Great Demonic Cults have different beliefs, with some saying they represent four immortals, while others argue the cults beliefs are just four avatars of a single immortal, leading to various theories. Demonic cults reveal very little to the outside, their movements elusive, and even joint efforts by the Great Xia Dynasty and the Five Great Immortal Sects have failed to locate their main base. Whenever righteous cultivators eradicate arge number of demonic cult strongholds, the cult members sprout up again like bamboo after rain, impossible topletely eliminate. Demonic cults are mysterious, employing bizarre and ruthless methods, chilling to the bone. But in reality, its only because the righteous path is too strong, forcing the demonic cults to operate in the shadows, resorting to underhanded tactics. If only the demonic cultsirs could be found, there would be no need for the Five Great Immortal Sects to act; the Great Xia Dynasty could dispatch troops and within five days turn the cults upside down, eradicating their nests within a month. This is the confidence of the righteous path. Demonic paths ultimately cant stand in the light of day. Lu Yang shook the envelope, producing a bone token with a unique qi signature left by the demonic cult member, Qin Yuanhao, a method that outsiders couldnt replicate. Barbarian Bone suggested, Could we use this token to join the demonic cult? Discovering a demonic cult hideout would be a great achievement, far more valuable than eliminating two tiger demons. Lu Yang shook his head, No, if we use his token to join Yanjiang Rudder, Qin Yuanhao would definitely know. Besides, we dont even know where Yanjiang Rudder is. How could we join? What should we do then? Barbarian Bone asked. Since its called Yanjiang Rudder, it must be in Yanjiang County. We could go there and inquire about Qin Yuanhao, follow him to find Yanjiang Rudder. Given that he referred to himself as junior in front of the tiger demon, his cultivation level wont be higher than the tiger demons. We can eliminate him and use the token directly, iming we were old friends of Qin Yuanhaoing to join him, only to find hes dead. Thats a good idea. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bones eyes lit up. Lets search some more, see if we can find anything else valuable. Lu Yang excitedly urged Meng Jingzhou to continue searching. Meng Jingzhou stumbled upon a bright red, palm-sized grass with an eerie aura. Jade Blood Grass, but why are the veins red? Meng Jingzhou was puzzled. Jade Blood Grass is primarily used for detoxification, its veins are supposed to be bluish-green, resembling rivers flowing on the ground. Why was this one red? Lu Yang crouched down to inspect it, then said, You forgot, Jade Blood Grasss main use for humans is as a primary ingredient in detoxification pills, but not so for demons. Jade Blood Grass can refine bloodlines. Its possible that the tiger demon used its blood to water and ripen the Jade Blood Grass, making it adapt to the Qiongqi bloodline. Looking at this, in a few more months, the Jade Blood Grass would have fully matured. Consuming it would have refined the Qiongqi bloodline, aiding the tiger demon in condensing its core. The blood in Jade Blood Grass is thus named. Lu Yang learned this knowledge of Jade Blood Grass from the Little Medicine Kings. Now this Jade Blood Grass can no longer be used to make detoxification pills, only for demons to consume for purifying their bloodlines, Lu Yang exined. In that case, you should keep it. It could fetch a good price at the sects monthly market on the fifteenth. Meng Jingzhou passed the herb to Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone. Many people in the sect keep demon beasts, and herbs that can enhance bloodlines have a significant market in Dao Seeking Sect. After some back and forth, Barbarian Bone did not insist on being polite over Lu Yang and took the Jade Blood Grass. Meng Jingzhou reminded Barbarian Bone, Dont eat the Jade Blood Grass. The ancient Barbarian Tribe is a branch of the human race, and Jade Blood Grass wont benefit your bloodline. Barbarian Bone expressed his disappointment with an oh. Legend has it that the ancient Barbarian Tribe originated from a romantic proposal in the ancient times when the human race lived in scattered tribes, and the strongest among them were called warriors. One day, two tribes met. A male warrior from one tribe took a liking to a female warrior from the other and proposed, Girl, give me a smile. If this young master is pleased, Ill marry you. The female warrior smirked and swung a stone back at him. They fought, and in the end, the female warrior prevailed, dragging the male warrior into her hut for a sleepless night. Ten monthster, the first Barbarian warrior was born. (End of the chapter) Chapter 50: What Did the Sage Say Again? Chapter 50: What Did the Sage Say Again? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Meng Jingzhou found another piece of tiger skin, ancient as if it had a history of over a hundred years, but well-preserved, with dense, clear script that Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone, stretching their necks for a nce, could not recognize. This is demonic script, the internalnguage of the demon races, Meng Jingzhou exined, recognizing it. The fox race, naturally libertine, reflects this in their writing, oftenposing unhealthy books. If someone engages in certain indescribable acts with these books, the authors can collect a sliver of yang energy. Therefore, most of the unhealthy books circting in the Central Continent are authored by the fox race. Despite official efforts to promote their harmfulness and periodic campaigns to destroy these books, they continue to circte in the ck market, unabated. As a young boy, Meng Jingzhou was quite obsessed with these books, not understanding the indescribable acts but finding the books interesting. He learned demonic script specifically to read the originals. (TL Note: ( ? ?? ?) LOL my man is so cultured) You were so keen on studying? Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone were surprised. Cultivation can enhance memory, making learning anguage rtively quick. But Meng Jingzhou had learned demonic script before beginning his cultivation journey, which was impressive. Meng Jingzhou was reluctant to exin further, only mentioning a casual interest in demonic culture. Barbarian Bone admired Meng Jingzhous humility and dedication to study without boasting, considering it a model of modest behavior and noble character worth emting. Whats written on the tiger skin? Let me see objects of ghosts and spirits, moving in shadows, avoiding the sun this is a method formanding ghost servants. Meng Jingzhou quickly skimmed the text, calcting its implications in his mind, and soon deduced the manuals function. The old hunter must have been refined this way. Refining ghostly beings has requirements, needing a cultivation two major levels higher, except for mortals, who can be refined after reaching the seventh level of Qi cultivation. The art ofmanding ghost servants seemed rather limited, effective only on beings two realms lower than oneself. Even if a ghost servant was refined, could it really be sent into battle? For instance, in the battle against the tiger demon, if a ghost servant had appeared, it likely would have been less useful than cannon fodder, posing no threat. Do you need me to trante the whole thing? It seems theres no restriction on race; humans can also practice it, though the tiger demon would have the best effect when practicing it. Barbarian Bone was about to question its usefulness when Lu Yang analyzed, If were joining the demonic cult, demonic methods are indispensable. This art ofmanding ghost servants could serve well as a facade. There are ready-made ghost servants at the hunters ce. Trante the method from the tiger skin, and lets all learn it together. Initially, Lu Yang nned to eliminate the remaining ghost servants, but given the new situation, using the ghost servants before dispersing their souls wasnt toote. ording to the tiger demon, the ghost servants willingly became servants after death, causing harm to travelers. They all deserve death. Alright, Meng Jingzhou agreed,ying out paper and grinding ink. His writing was swift and fluid, quickly transcribing the art ofmanding ghost servants. I wont practice it. Being of pure yang spirit root, ghosts flee from me like snow melts under the sun. I cant cultivate such purely yin attribute techniques. Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone did not object and began to practice together. Soon, a chilling breeze filled the cave, apanied by the faint howls of ghostly souls, bringing an endless chill to the bone. Lu Yang felt lighter, as if floating, resembling a ghostly spirit. His mind was exceptionally clear, senses sharp, able to detect any minute detail around him. He felt Meng Jingzhou was like a zing inferno, intensely hot! Whats going on here? Lu Yang wondered, looking down to find his body perfectly seated in meditation. No, its not that I can fly; its that my soul has left my body! Meng Jingzhou noticed something was wrong with Lu Yang and eximed in shock, Only those in the Nascent Soul stage can let their souls leave their bodies and wander thousands of miles. How did you manage to do it now? Hurry back to your body. Youre only at the Foundation Building stage and havent cultivated your soul yet. Its very easy for your soul to get damaged, and once its damaged, its difficult to repair! Lu Yang also realized the problem and started reciting the mantra tomand ghost servants, trying to return his soul to normal. How did you do that? Meng Jingzhou had never heard of anyone in the Foundation Building stage being able to let their soul leave their body. There simply wasnt such a technique. Lu Yang was equally puzzled, I just practiced ording to the method ofmanding ghost servants you wrote down. I felt Ipletely understood it, saw no issue, and thought to try it out to see what its like, and then this happened. Meng Jingzhou looked at Lu Yang strangely, Could it be that you treated your own soul as a ghost servant andmanded yourself? Such a method of cultivation was unheard of, but given the current situation, it was the only exnation. Lu Yang thought it over and couldnte up with any other possibility. Lu Yang asked Meng Jingzhou to stay further away and tried several more times, always resulting in his soul leaving his body. Whats with my talent in spells? The two were at a loss and decided to wait for Barbarian Bone to wake up to see if he experienced the same as Lu Yang. When Barbarian Bone woke up, he was puzzled by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhous expectant looks. Did you learn how tomand ghost servants? Ive got some understanding, should be able tomand the souls of up to eight mortals. Can youmand yourself to let your soul leave your body? Lu Yang looked at Barbarian Bone hopefully, wishing he would say yes to prove that it wasnt just him who had strayed in his practice. Barbarian Bone was even more puzzled, How is that possible? This is the technique tomand ghost servants, can ones own soul also bemanded as a ghost servant? Meng Jingzhou exined Lu Yangs experience to Barbarian Bone, who was immensely impressed. Lu Yangs quick thinking and high talent in learning spells were unmatched, and Meng Jingzhou was also praised for his broad knowledge and talent. This journey had been a learning experience, exactly as the Sage had said. What did the sage say again? Oh, right, the Sage said: Walking among 3 people, all of them are my teacher (TL Note: This isnt the actual saying. The original is by Confucious who said Walking among three people, I find my teacher among them. https://.goodreads/quotes/1106152-walking-among-three-people-i-find-my-teacher-among-them) Its time to go find the ghost servants. Seeing nothing else of value to scavenge in the cave, Meng Jingzhou called hispanions to leave. You go ahead, I have some things to take care of and will catch up soon, Lu Yang told Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone to leave first. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone didnt think much of it and left the tiger den. Once sure they were gone, Lu Yangs smile faded, and his expression became solemn. He walked deeper into the cave and saw a pile of bones like a small hill, sighing softly. Just as I thought. Seeing the various items, Lu Yang had guessed that the tiger demon, cautious by nature, wouldnt leave bones outside after consuming humans, as it would easily expose itself. The prudent action was to keep the remnants within the cave. Reality confirmed his thoughts. These poor people,ing from different ces and deceived and devoured while passing Mount Song, ended up in this small cave. Lu Yang didnt speak further, easily slicing arge piece of rock from the cave wall with his Green Edge Sword. He smoothed the rock, silently recited the Rebirth Mantra for these unfortunate souls, stood silently for a moment, then turned and left. Sorry to keep you waiting, lets go. Lu Yang called hispanions to leave this unpleasant ce. (End of the chapter) Chapter 51: Forgot Something Chapter 51: Forgot Something Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii When Qi Wu first found the old hunter, there were a few households nearby, seemingly normal, all transformed into ghost servants by the tiger demon. After the tiger demon was subdued, the ghost servants were at a loss, in chaos, with some suggesting to descend the mountain and others proposing to continue hiding. They couldnte to a decision while arguing. At this time, the trio appeared and captured them all. Meng Jingzhou slightly revealed a bit of pure Yang energy, causing the ghost servants to writhe in pain on the ground. Theres no need to keep so many; two are enough to pose as demon cultivators, Lu Yang said coldly, feeling no sympathy for these ghost servants who aided the tiger demon. After all, they wouldnt have be ghost servants if they hadnt agreed to the tiger demons demands. They deserved to be killed. Lu Yang tried but couldnt summon the ghost servants; he could only let his soul leave his body. Barbarian Bone, its up to you. Barbarian Bone, without much ado, kept two of the transformed traveler ghost servants, eliminating the rest cleanly. Using the hunter ghost servant might be easily noticed by the demon sect, hinting that they had killed the tiger demon. Using traveler ghost servants posed much less risk. Keep. Barbarian Bone absorbed a male and a female traveler ghost servant into his body, part of the technique tomand ghost servants, summoning them when necessary for battle. On their way to Yanjiang County, they encountered Qi Wu and others still wandering aimlessly in the forest. The ongoing rain and their unfamiliarity with the area naturally made it impossible for them to find their way down the mountain. Benefactors! Qi Wu and the others were extremely excited to see Lu Yang and hispanions, as if they had seen a lifeline. The grace of the benefactors, we will never forget in our lifetimes! The mountain god has shown mercy! Grateful for the life-saving grace, forever remembered! Their fervent thanks to the trio were heartfelt and sincere. Seeing the people they had saved and hearing their genuine words of thanks, the gloom in Lu Yangs heart gradually dissipated, no longer dwelling on the bones in the cave. As cultivators, we should follow the righteous path, no need for thanks, Meng Jingzhou solemnly stated his stance, deeming saving people as a natural duty, not for gratitude. Barbarian Bone, observing Meng Jingzhous righteous demeanor, felt he truly was a role model. However, Lu Yang, without needing to watch, knew Meng Jingzhou was just putting on a show, secretly delighting in their gratitude. After escorting the merchants to Yanjiang County and the break of dawn following a night of torrential rain, a faint rainbow hung in the sky. Did we forget something? Meng Jingzhou felt like they were missing something. Didnt forget anything, right? Lu Yang counted the number of people, three in total, and concluded they hadnt lost anything. It just feels like were missing something. Never mind, lets not dwell on it. In Qinghuai County, a carriage was parked in the backyard of an inn, with an old horse leisurely eating the feed Meng Jingzhou had left. When will that Meng family kide to find me? The feed wontst many days. Wasnt the mission supposed to bepleted in five or six days? The old horse, being a rare demonic beast, naturally couldnt just eat ordinary fodder. It was fed with high-quality, spirit-infused feed that Meng Jingzhou had purchased at a high price and prepared with care. The old horse snorted and smacked its lips, finding its situation rather boring, asionally ncing at a small white mare next door. After entering the city, the trio casually chose a teahouse, ordered a pot of tea and some snacks, and began to n their next steps. How do we find this Qin Yuanhao in such arge Yanjiang County? Should we ask the local authorities for help? Barbarian Bone frowned. Yanjiang County wasnt a major center for cultivators and was rtively insignificantpared to other counties. It wasnt even marked on less detailed maps, but still, it was home to two million people. Finding one person there was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Lu Yang waved the idea away: Its not appropriate. We dont know how long the demon sect has been hiding here, and the entangled forces behind it could include local authorities. Barbarian Bone didnt understand Lu Yangs reasoning: Arent demon sect members condemned by everyone? Why would the authorities help them? Meng Jingzhou, more familiar with these matters, exined: Exactly because they are universally condemned, the Great Xia Dynasty has added number of demons eradicated as an official performance metric. The more demons an official eradicates, especially those of higher cultivation, the better their performance is considered. The demon sect could easily strike a deal with the local magistrate, regrly providing demons in exchange for secrecy about their location. Meng Jingzhous narrative wasnt just a story but a reality his elders had spoken of. Despite efforts to eradicate the demon sect, some always slipped through the cracks. There were suggestions to remove this performance metric, but they were vetoed by the Prime Minister. The metric remains, encouraging most officials to diligently fight the demon sect, though some collude for personal gain. Removing it might discourage even those earnestly pursuing demons. Barbarian Bone felt his understanding of the world upended by these revtions. He didnt think of this before. Lu Yang added: Its unlikely that the magistrate is in league with the demon sect, but we must prepare for the worst. If the local magistrate is indeed in league with the demonic cult, then revealing our intentions to him would naturally lead to Qin Yuanhao being handed over, in order not to expose themselves. However, this would alert the entire Yanjiang sect of our actions, causing them to go into hiding and thus making us miss the chance to infiltrate the demonic cult. That would be counterproductive and not advisable. The best course of action now is for us to keep our identities hidden and start looking for Qin Yuanhao ourselves. If we cant find him, we can consider asking for help from the local authoritiester on. Barbarian Bone agreed with their logic. So, how do we draw out Qin Yuanhao? Barbarian Bone pondered many ideas, all wed and risky. Posting flyers or making announcements was too conspicuous. Gathering intelligence in the ck market? If Qin Yuanhao learned someone was probing for information on him, he might hide even deeper, perhaps leading the demonic cult to encircle and suppress them. Too passive, and impractical. Barbarian Bone was curious about the insights of hispanions, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Already on their way down the mountain, Lu Yang had devised a n, chuckling, You know, unlike us from reputable sects, those who wander the jianghu ce great importance on face. Especially those from the demonic cults, who see face as a matter of status. To them, losing face is worse than death. So, we need to spread rumors far and wide that Qin Yuanhao is a benevolent man, always doing good deeds instead of his duties. Once the rumor that he is a good person permeates Yanjiang Prefecture, and the demonic cult members believe Qin Yuanhao has lost face, he will bepelled toe out. That will be our opportunity! Meng Jingzhou summarized simply, So, we just make things up and stir up trouble. Fortunately, he was a natural at this, most adept in such tactics. Barbarian Bone, enlightened by the strategy, realized it was an excellent way to force Qin Yuanhao into the open. But thement about the difference in valuing face between their upright sects and those in the Jianghu lingered in his mind. (End of the chapter) Chapter 52: Who’s Being Called a Good Person? Chapter 52: Whos Being Called a Good Person? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Inside a small tavern, a customer was speaking animatedly, attracting the attention of many. Have you heard? Our county has produced a righteous hero named Qin Yuanhao, whose actions are admired even by the people from the five major immortal sects! Lu Yangs eyes sparkled with excitement, his lips curved into a smile as if he hade across some interesting gossip to share with everyone. Really? Howe Ive never heard of such a person in our Yanjiang County? I kind of remember this name, but he doesnt seem to be a good person. Everyone quiet down, let the young man speak. What happened with Qin Yuanhao? Lu Yang paused for a moment before continuing: This hero, Qin Yuanhao, is not only highly skilled with a cultivation level at the Foundation Building stage, but he is also known for his righteousness and widework of friends. Those who know him are willing to call him big brother.'' Hearing that Qin Yuanhao had reached the Foundation Building stage, the customers eyes lit up, finding the news to be quite a novelty. Usually, the martial arts legends they talked about, how top-notch martial artists had such thrilling experiences, sounded impressive and exciting, but upon reflection, they realized that the actual strength of these top martial artists wasnt very high. Itsmonly epted that top martial artists in the martial world correspond to the eighth or ninth level of Qi cultivation, which is considered the limit for martial artists. Now that there was a rumor about a Foundation Building stage expert, they were all ears, ready to boast about it in the future. One day, Qin Yuanhao and a close friend attended an auction. The friend took a liking to an item and borrowed several thousand low-grade spirit stones from Qin Yuanhao. Qinughed heartily, saying that talking about money cheapens our friendship. Heres eight thousand low-grade spirit stones for you, no need to pay me back. His friend was deeply touched. Eight thousand low-grade spirit stones?! A bystander, Meng Jingzhou, eximed, Spirit stones are the hard currency of the cultivation world. Eight thousand low-grade spirit stones are enough to buy arge mansion in the county center and a stunningly beautiful maid to serve you for life! With Meng Jingzhous exnation, the customers finally understood the significance of eight thousand low-grade spirit stones. This Qin Yuanhao was incredibly generous, giving away eight thousand spirit stones just like that! After his friend won the auction item, he was targeted by a demonic cultivator who also participated in the auction. Caught off guard, the demonic cultivator sessfully ambushed the friend and Qin Yuanhao. Unwilling to give up the item, the friend resisted fiercely and was killed by the demonic cultivator who then stole the treasure. Qin Yuanhao wanted to pursue, but s, the demonic cultivator had already escaped. At this point, Lu Yang pointed to his throat, and the customers, understanding his hint, eagerly offered him drinks. Lu Yang asked for a cup of grain alcohol, took a sip to clear his throat, and continued. On his deathbed, the friend entrusted his wife and daughter to Qin Yuanhao. Qin, with tears in his eyes, promised to take good care of the mother and daughter. The mother and daughter were both rare beauties. The wife had the art of keeping her youth, graceful and elegant, and the daughter was lively and cute, charming and delightful. Faced with such stunning beauty, Qin Yuanhao remained unmoved. Without any support, the mother and daughter felt that Qin Yuanhao was a man they could entrust their lives to and attempted to seduce him with their beauty. Qin Yuanhao candidly said he practiced celibacy as part of his cultivation and could not break his vow. Qin Yuanhao kept his promise, taking care of the mother and daughter without losing propriety, eventually finding a good man to take them in. There is such a righteous hero in the world, wealthy but not greedy, seeing beauty but not being tempted! Meng Jingzhousment resonated with the people around him. Qin Yuanhao is truly a great man. What a pity I dont know Qin Yuanhao, otherwise I would definitely borrow some spirit stones! Who says heroes cant resist the allure of beauty? Didnt Qin Yuanhao just do that? In the corner, Barbarian Bone watched the amusing Lu Yang and the supportive Meng Jingzhou, thinking they were quite impressive, able to make up a story on the spot without needing a script. When would he ever possess such talent? The customers loved to boast, especially about things others didnt know. They had drunk quite a bit while listening to Lu Yangs story, not remembering some details clearly, which they discovered when boasting while drunk. Since they couldnt admit to forgetting thetter half of the story, they couldnt let it drop and so continued to embellish it with their own imaginations. Everyone forgot different parts and made up different content, leading to various rumors about Qin Yuanhao. Have you heard about that great phnthropist named Qin Yuanhao? Is he the one who secretly discovered a spirit stone mine, bing the wealthiest cultivator in the area overnight, the Qin Yuanhao who lends money without expecting it back? That must be him, but what I heard is that Qin Yuanhao is not interested in women but prefers men? Yes, yes, yes, I heard Qin Yuanhao practices celibacy and loves little boys the most! Really? Is that how you practice celibacy? Isnt it said that you must consume chicken to practice celibacy? All of you are wrong. I heard that Qin Yuanhao identally obtained the legendary Merit Ledger, recognized it as its master with his blood, and became the true owner of the Merit Ledger. The more good deeds he does, the more merit he umtes, which can be exchanged for rewards, including spiritual treasures, immortal weapons, and even cultivation levels! I also heard he is the destined Lord of the Nine Nethers, in charge of life, death, and merit. Dont be fooled by his current low strength; he is just umting power in secret, waiting for an opportunity to ascend to the heavens and be an immortal ancestor! He joined the demonic sect to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, intending to infiltrate the higher ranks and take down the demonic sect, viewing it as his own source of merit! Considering the demonic sect as something within his grasp, what a bold spirit! Regr meeting of the Yanjiang Rudder of the demonic sect. The demons respectfully lined up in two rows, with the rudder master sitting on a chair carved from a single piece of crimson agate, with dragon and tiger heads carved into the armrests, symbolizing his authority as the rudder master. This chair was a filial gesture from Qin Yuanhao. Qin Yuanhao was in a foul mood, his forehead darkened, and his mouth asionally twitched, revealing beast-like teeth. His colleagues didnt mind his state, as everyones cultivation level and status were more or less the same; his anger couldnt possibly affect them. Thats just how it is in the demonic sect, the life or death of others has nothing to do with me, the misfortune isnt mine. No wonder Qin Yuanhao was in a bad mood; before the meeting, he had already been asked: Can I borrow some spirit stones? Its okay if I dont return them, considering you own a spirit stone mine. Do you know any sisters or mother-daughter pairs? Introduce me to one. Im sorry, I shouldnt have taken you to the brothel to listen to music before. It must have been painful for you, right? Big brother Qin, Im going to follow you from now on. The Merit Ledger and all that isnt important; what matters is I value you as a person. Generous to a fault, not interested in women, Qin Yuanhao, youre really bringing shame to our demonic sect. You couldnt possibly be an undercover agent sent by the righteous path, could you? Qin Yuanhao clenched his fists in secret, determined to chop up those who ndered and gossiped about him and feed them to the dogs! How did he, a notorious viin, end up beingbeled a good person? Who are they calling a good person? (TL Note: The called here is more akin to scold/insult) (End of the chapter) Chapter 53: The Demonic Sect Recruits Chapter 53: The Demonic Sect Recruits Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Note: I changed Luodi Commercial Chamber into Land of Gold Commerce In the darkness, a dozen pairs of eyes glowed eerily, like venomous snakes hiding in a cave, all focused on the rudder master, waiting silently for him to speak. The rudder master, who had been loungingzily, finally spoke. His voice was hoarse, as if he hadnt spoken for decades, and every word he uttered carried weight. Why arent the lights on? A demonic sect officer replied respectfully, Rudder master, you forgot, at thest meeting you mentioned how you attended a higher-level meeting and described the atmosphere there. You also said that our Yanjiang Ruddercks the true atmosphere of the demonic sect. I thought about it and realized you were right. Our Yanjiang Rudder is the lowest performing among all branches, perhaps for this very reason. I figured, doesnt every story about our demonic sect say we like to plot schemes in dark ces? So, I specifically ordered not to light themps. And you know what, not lighting themps does indeed create the atmosphere for doing evil deeds. Clearly, this officer had a clear understanding of his actions, knowing full well that the demonic sect was not a ce for doing good deeds. The rudder master was silent for a long while, pondering whether the officer was indirectly suggesting he should leave the sect? Hinting that Yanjiang Rudder hadnt received a raise in dues for a long time? Or suggesting that it was time to buy insurance for the sect members? It surely wasnt about leaving the sect. The person had always been diligently doing evil deeds, not distinguishing between friend and foe, causing trouble outside and even within the sect, truly deserving the title of a bad seed. It wasnt about raising the dues either. The dues of the demonic sect are linked to the local finances, being three times that of local officials, which was already high. Yanjiang County was a remote and small county, so the dues of Yanjiang Rudder couldnt possibly match those of the headquarters. And it certainly wasnt about buying insurance. Most members of the demonic sect dont have heirs, so who would the insurance payout go to? Furthermore, the Land of Gold Commerce would not allow the demonic sect to purchase insurance. Selling personal ident insurance to demonic sect members would likely leave themerce with nothing, not even their underwear. Lets light themps first. Yes. The officer blew a breath, and a small me touched the wick of amp, igniting it and instantly brightening the entire hall. The rudder master spoke again, Youve all more or less heard the rumors about little Qin. Stop spreading them, lest outsidersugh at us. Little Qins character is evident to all. Hemits all manner of evils and atrocities. If caught by the authorities, even beheading would be too light a punishment for him, which is enough to prove that little Qins conduct aligns with our demonic sects teachings. As for the rumors that little Qin belongs to the righteous path, thats even more nonsensical. Those who join the demonic sect have all passed the test of the sect leader. The sect leader described him as demonically possessed to the bone. The sect leaders judgment is never wrong. Qin Yuanhao bowed respectfully: Rudder master, your wisdom is profound. Qin Yuanhao felt somewhat relieved. He resolved to deal with those spreading rumors about him once he returned! The rudder master did not mention Qin Yuanhao further, having said those few words out of consideration for the chair he had received as a gift. The reason for gathering everyone today is that the headquarters has assigned us a task. The rudder master paused before continuing, The headquarters requires us to recruit new disciples for the demonic sect. Qin Yuanhao and the others were surprised; it had been thirty years since the demonic sect had recruited on such arge scale. In recent decades, joining the demonic sect had been through personal introductions. For instance, Qin Yuanhao had wanted to recruit the tiger demon, but unfortunately, the tiger demon steadfastly guarded Song Mountain and was unwilling to join the demonic sect. Everyone should be aware of the grand eras discourse. In the past century, prodigies have emerged, and famous masters could be defeated by unknown individuals. Numerous previously undiscovered relics and heavenly realms have reappeared, marking an era of both opportunities and challenges. The five great immortal sects, super-grade sects, and first-grade sects are all brimming with talents. The once rare dual spirit root individuals are nowmonce. If these prodigies truly mature, there will be no need topete in this grand era. The only time topete is now! Seize the opportunity, and you could transform and soar to the heavens, achieving immortality with ease! But opportunities are not so easily grasped. The damned Great Xia Dynasty and the five great immortal sects have intensified their crackdown on us, resulting in the fall of many of ourrades. To im a ce in this grand era, we must expand our demonic sects congregation. The four great demonic sects have reached a unanimous agreement on this matter. What you need to do is spread the news of the demonic sect recruiting through your channels, aiming to gather demonic cultivators from Yanjiang County and the surrounding counties, or those interested in joining our sect. Someone expressed concern: Wont suchrge-scale recruitment provide an opportunity for the righteous path to infiltrate our demonic sect? This wasnt just one persons worry; many present shared this concern. The demonic sect has always been cautious in its existence. If a few righteous path spies were to infiltrate, the demonic sects situation would be precarious. The rudder master shook his head, This recruitment is organized by the sect leader using supreme divine powers. The trials he has set up are impossible for anyone from the righteous path to pass. Doubts vanished, reced by boundless zeal. For the members of the demonic sect, the sect leader is an omnipotent being, the sky of the demonic sect, surely capable of leading them to eternal glory! After the meeting, Qin Yuanhao immediately used his connections to find out who was trying to frame him. Eventually, the source was traced back to a small tavern. That customer was eight feet tall, with a wide frame and a face full of pockmarks, a strong man who looked like he could eat three children in one meal, the tavern owner described vividly, clearly remembering Lu Yang. Based on the description, Qin Yuanhao quickly produced a sketch that barely resembled the real Lu Yang. Originally, Lu Yang and hispanions had disguised themselves before spreading rumors in the tavern. Qin Yuanhao, with a cold expression, thought to himself, how dare such a conspicuous person spread rumors, thinking he could be easily bullied? It waste at night, and the Great Xia Dynasty had no curfew. Qin Yuanhao and his followers were eating barbecue on the street side, enjoying pork skewers, beef skewers, roastedmb legs, chicken feet, chicken legs, roasted pork skin, grilled tendons, roasted beef tendons, grilled shrimp, tender grilled kidneys, grilled leeks, potatoes, eggnts, and soft tofu The skewers were tender and well-seasoned, smeared with a dark, oily secret sauce, and sizzled with fragrance upon touching the charcoal. Pork was skewered on long bamboo sticks and roasted over arge fire, with the fat sticky but not greasy and the lean meat rich in vor. Themb leg was baked in a naan oven,bining roasting and stewing for even heating, tender and juicy. Chicken feet were marinated then grilled, offering a rich texture of tendons, skin, and crisp bones, delightfully chewy. Chicken drumsticks were grilled to precision, ensuring no excessive loss of moisture or fat, bncing the taste and texture of skin, meat, tendons, and bone. Potatoes were steamed and smoked, served with a secret soy sauce, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a fine and sandy texture. The group feasted until they were glossy with grease. After eating their fill, Qin Yuanhaomanded his followers with a swagger, You guys, go, search the entire city for these people. Donte back if you cant find them! Yes, boss! the followers responded, dispersing in all directions. Qin Yuanhao, satisfied with the barbecue, temporarily set aside thoughts of those spreading rumors. Meanwhile, he was unaware of Lu Yang lurking underground. Few people pay attention to whats beneath their feet, and Qin Yuanhao was no exception. (End of the chapter) Chapter 54: Naming the Store Chapter 54: Naming the Store Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After identifying their target location, Lu Yang and the other two regrouped and analyzed, Judging by Qin Yuanhaos walking posture and breathing rate, his cultivation should be in thete Foundation Building stage. He lives in an ordinary residence, not arge one, and it doesnt seem like he has servants. It appears he lives alone. We should stay nearby to observe him for a while. First, to understand his habits, so we wont bepletely clueless if asked about him after infiltrating the demonic sect. Second, to follow him and see if we can find the location of the Yanjiang Rudder. The Barbarian didnt understand, Qin Yuanhao has so many followers, why dont we follow these people to find the location of the Yanjiang Rudder? Meng Jingzhou dismissed this idea, having more knowledge about the demonic sect, Those people have no cultivation. They are Qin Yuanhaos followers, true, but not members of the demonic sect. Joining the demonic sect is not as easy as you think, and whether these people even know Qin Yuanhao is part of the demonic sect is questionable. However, where should we hide to observe him? There are no inns nearby, only a few tea houses and taverns. We can spend the day in a tea house, but what about at night? The demonic sect prefers to operate at night. Lu Yang was also troubled, but then his eyes lit up when he caught sight of a tea house with a For Rent sign, This tea house is in an ideal location. The second floor can be used to observe Qin Yuanhao. We could rent this tea house and use it as a front to monitor his movements! Meng Jingzhou nodded, then asked, What kind of store should we open? Although its a disguise, it needs to be convincing. Im not good at brewing tea, so we definitely cant continue with a tea house. I have an elder at home who is skilled in linguistic spells, and Ive learned a bit of storytelling, singing, and performing from him. Meng Jingzhou, always professional, suggested, I propose we open aedy club where I can perform stand-upedy. Lu Yang admired Meng Jingzhous talents, Butedy shows are popr during the day, and there wont be many people at night. The best option is to find a nighttime business, something entertaining, lively, where people can drink and have fun. This way, we can observe Qin Yuanhao from the second floor without him noticing us. Meng Jingzhou blushed, hesitating but mostly excited, A nighttime business, do you mean you want to open a Lu Yang nodded, Exactly, Im talking about a barbecue restaurant. Meng Jingzhou: Right, thats what I was thinking too. Lu Yang had a good idea. Barbecue is simple to start with, and even if inexperienced, one should be able to master it after burning it a dozen times or so. I can take care of the barbecue. Barbarian Bone grinned confidently, pulling out a piece of paper from his bosom that read Ancestral Barbecue Secret Recipe. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were very familiar with this recipe; it was the same one that required one hundred contribution points to redeem from the exchange list! Barbarian Boneughed heartily, Back home, I often grilled wild beasts myself, like ck bears, wild boars, and rabbits. I noticed that many people in the Dao Seeking Sect buy a lot of food, but there are few barbecue restaurants, so I posted the ancestral barbecue secret recipe. At that moment, Lu Yang wondered who would be so bored as to put a barbecue recipe on the exchange list. So, it was you who posted it! Did anyone buy it? Meng Jingzhou was curious. Barbarian Bone honestly replied, A senior brother told me that after buying the barbecue recipe, he went on a mission with a senior sister. He used the barbecue to capture the senior sisters heart. Meng Jingzhou: I shouldnt have asked. Barbarian Bone revealed a slight smile and said, Moreover, theres another advantage to opening a barbecue shop. What is it? Barbarian Bone summoned two specters: I dont have to do it myself; I can let these two specters barbecue in the kitchen, and I dont even have to pay them a sry, which is very convenient. This way, they wouldnt even need to hire a server, saving money while maintaining secrecya truly thorough consideration. Having learned from Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou for so long, Barbarian Bone had picked up a thing or two. Lu Yang firmly refused to admit that Barbarian Bone had learned anything from him. Barbarian Bone studied the secret recipe overnight. His hometown was in the wilderness, and many ingredients in the original barbecue recipe were unique to the wilderness. Barbarian Bone needed to figure out which ingredients could be substituted. Do you guys eat grilled insects or grilled cow eyes? Barbarian Bone suddenly asked. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou shook their heads in unison, persuading Barbarian Bone to stick to items within the general publics eptance range. Barbarian Bone uttered an Oh and pondered briefly. First of all, he considered himself a normal person; therefore, since he could ept these items, anything he could ept should be eptable to normal people as well. Case closed. Barbarian Bone decided to keep grilled insects, grilled cow eyes, and a series of regionally unique barbecue materials on the menu, hoping the people of Yanjiang County would like them. The next morning, Meng Jingzhou disyed extraordinary financial ability by purchasing the entire teahouse. Wait, I thought we agreed to rent? Meng Jingzhou acted so quickly that Lu Yang hadnt even reacted before the teahouse was registered under their names. Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou in astonishment, wondering if he nned to run the business for a lifetime given that they were only on a mission for a few months. Meng Jingzhou confidently stated, I always use my own things. If I can buy it, I definitely wont rent! We can always sell it after the mission ispleted. Seeing Meng Jingzhou pay so readily, the original owner of the teahouse dly packed up and left. After the owner left, a serious question arosewhat should they name the barbecue shop? I propose calling it Little Mengs BBQ Shop, Meng Jingzhou suggested. Lu Yang nced at Meng Jingzhou disdainfully, That name is toomon. I propose calling it Three Bowls Cant Make It Over the Pass BBQ Shop. Eating skewers, drinking, and then going up the mountain to fight tigers, its perfect. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone shook their heads in unison, not finding it suitable at all. Barbarian Bone, rarely voicing a different opinion, said, The name Three Bowls Cant Make It Over the Pass is too long. How about using our tribes style, like Ha Ha Ha BBQ Shop, or He He He BBQ Shop? Lu Yang had heard about the naming conventions of the wilderness tribes. This method of naming was considered quite advanced even in the forward-thinking Martial Sect: He He He Weapon Shop, Ho Ho Ho Tavern, Ao Ao Ao Brothel How about calling it Crossing Tribtion BBQ Shop? Or Immortal Ascension BBQ Shop. I think Light Boat BBQ Shop is nice. Who names a barbecue shop so elegantly? After some discussion, they had to reluctantly admit a fact: none of them were good at naming. Forget it, lets each write a name on a piece of paper, shake it, and whoevers namees out, thats it, Lu Yang proposed a solution, which was agreed upon by the others. Considering Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were quite cunning, it was safest to let Barbarian Bone shake the papers. Barbarian Bone cupped his hands around the three small papers, shaking them up and down. Opening his thumb, two of the papers flew out. He opened one and found it written, Try again. With a puzzled look, Barbarian Bone opened the other paper, which read, Thank you for your patronage. Barbarian Bone: ??? For a moment, Barbarian Bones mind couldnt make the connection; he was supposed to be naming the shop, not participating in a lottery right? (End of the chapter) Chapter 55: Business Thrives Chapter 55: Business Thrives Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii He nced at Lu Yang and then at Meng Jingzhou, slowly asking, Did youe up with these names? Lu Yang nodded, I came up with Come Again BBQ Shop.'' Meng Jingzhou also nodded, I came up with Thank You for Your Patronage BBQ Shop.'' Barbarian Bone felt his own Sheep Sheep Sheep BBQ Shop name was too ordinary. The first paper Barbarian Bone opened was Lu Yangs, so by the rule, the barbecue shop was named Come Again. Do any of you have a way to conceal your aura? Lu Yang asked. While on the street, Lu Yang noticed many peoples breathing methods and their affinity for spiritual energy, which surely meant they were cultivators. However, when he scanned them with his divine consciousness, he couldnt determine their cultivation levels. It would be reasonable if one or two people had higher cultivation levels than him, but it was impossible for everyone to be higher. Yanjiang County was different from Taiping Vige; there were many cultivators, but not to the exaggerated extent where everyone was at the Foundation Building stage. Lu Yang quickly realized that in the world of cultivators, ones status was determined by their cultivation level. To avoid being bullied while roaming the jianghu, one either needed to have an exceptional cultivation level or the ability to conceal it, making it difficult for others to act rashly. Their unguarded outings were practically announcing to everyone that they were greenhorns. To blend into the demonic sect, they needed to appear as experienced jianghu veterans. I do have one. Its something we used back home for hunting, Barbarian Bone said, pulling out a scroll made of sheepskin. The prey in the wilderness is very cunning, running away at the slightest disturbance. To hunt sessfully, you need to conceal your aura and ambush in advance. Barbarian Bones tribe in the wilderness was a major n, and he belonged to the highest bloodline status within it. Not just Qi Cultivation and Foundation Building members of the tribe went hunting, but also those at the Gold Core stage who could fast without food. For the tribe, prey was not just for filling their stomachs but also for the effects of rare and precious natural treasures. However, when using this secret method, you cannot move; any movement will break the concealment. The greater the limitation, the more powerful the effect. In terms of concealment effectiveness alone, the method recorded on the sheepskin scroll ranked in the top three. I have amon concealment spell. Only someone with a major cultivation level higher than you can see through your cultivation level, Meng Jingzhou said, taking out a bamboo scroll from his jade pendant, which still had a faint bamboo fragrance despite its age. The quality of the bamboo also showed how extraordinary the spell recorded on the bamboo scroll was. Meng Jingzhous jade pendant also contained many spells and divine powers brought from his home, too many for him to learn. Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou strangely, Arent you a runaway? Where did all these good thingse from? My sister secretly gave them to me. Alright then. The three began to learn the concealment spells. As talented individuals, such minor spells were easy for them to grasp. It took them just over half a day to learn the basics, with the rest being practice. Lu Yang bowed in thanks, When I learn new spells, Ill definitely teach them to you! Despite Barbarian Bone and Meng Jingzhou casually sharing their spells, Lu Yang knew these two concealment spells were incredibly rare, and their trust in him was evident. Meng Jingzhouughed heartily, telling Lu Yang not to worry about it, and Barbarian Bone expressed simr sentiments. Eh, I remember this ce being a teahouse. Now its turned into a barbecue shop? Under the night sky, two wandering heroes stumbled upon the former teahouse, now reced by a barbecue shop with an interesting name. Come Again BBQ Shop, what a delicious aroma. The wandering heroes sniffed the air; the fragrance of the barbecue was irresistible, making their mouths water. How about we eat here? Lets go. Agreeing instantly, they entered the barbecue shop. Upon entering, they were struck by the lively atmosphere. Customers were toasting and feasting, devouring skewers and gulping down drinks, theirughter loud enough to lift the roof. A sturdy man, undoubtedly the server, hustled in and out with skewers. Was his size meant to deter dine-and-dashers? Is a newly opened shop this popr? The two were intrigued. A shop that could attract such a crowd must have its reasons, and they were eager to try. Luckily, there was onest empty table left. As they settled down, another server named Lu Yang, with a notebook in hand and wearing the standard service industry smile, approached, Hello, what would you like to order? Two pots of liquor, a te of boiled peanuts, thirtymb skewers, thirty beef skewers, two grilled potatoes all mildly spicy, we cant handle too much heat. As Lu Yang noted their order, he messaged Barbarian Bone telepathically, Can you adjust your recipe a bit? The barbecue is too delicious, attracting too many people. How are we supposed to keep an eye on Qin Yuanhao? Lu Yang hadnt expected Barbarian Bones secret recipe to be so effective. A few customers came on the first evening, several tables the next day, and by the third day, every table was full. Now, on the fourth day, after the two wandering heroes took thest table, there were already people waiting outside. Lu Yang feared that by the fifth day, people might need to book in advance or share tables, and by the thirtieth day, they could open a chain in the neighboring county. A yearter, they could have two hundred chain stores in the northern part of the Central Continent, and three yearster, they could be popr across the entire Central Continent. Five yearster, they might even go public on the stock exchange if such a concept existed here. Was there something wrong with Barbarian Bones recipe, like a banned substance in the sauce? That was a joke. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had tried Barbarian Bones cooking, which had no banned substances and was indeed delicious. However, they hadnt expected it to attract so many customers. Later, Lu Yang realized that having been ustomed to first-ss delicacies at Tianmen Peak, his tastes had be quite refined. If something that satisfied him, who was used to such fine dining, then Barbarian Bones barbecue recipe truly had something special. In any case, they absolutely couldnt let the shop continue to be this popr. It seems pretty busy downstairs, do you need me to help? Meng Jingzhouszy voice rang out in their ears. Now, only Meng Jingzhou was upstairs keeping an eye on Qin Yuanhao. Stay upstairs and keep watch over Qin Yuanhao, donte down and cause trouble! Lu Yang warned, knowing Meng Jingzhouing downstairs would be more than just serving as a server. Based on his understanding of Meng Jingzhou, he could perform a stand-upedy routine while serving dishes. Meng Jingzhou yawned loudly, making anyone listening feel sleepy, But its really boring upstairs. Its been four days, and Qin Yuanhao has no intention of leaving his house, just meditating all day long without any entertainment. I say we might as well pretend to be street performers. Ill perform a monologue at Qin Yuanhaos house, you can perform a jar-lifting act, and while distracting him, Barbarian Bone can install a listening talisman or something. Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone ignored Meng Jingzhou. The best way to deal with someone who talks incessantly is to ignore them. Seeing that no one was paying him any attention, Meng Jingzhou switched topics, Barbarian Bone, are you really not considering making the skewers taste worse? Barbarian Bone had his principles, Our family has been a barbecue family for eighteen generations; I cant tarnish the reputation of the barbecue barbarians in my generation! (End of the chapter) Chapter 56: A Lackey Must Strictly Follow the Boss's Orders Chapter 56: A Lackey Must Strictly Follow the Bosss Orders Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii This was a fact, as barbecue was the primary cooking method of the barbarians. Barbarian Bones pupils ignited with a zing fire, full of fighting spirit. Lu Yang: Why ignite your fighting spirit here? Were here to infiltrate the demonic sect, not to open a branch for your family! Lu Yang sighed. If Barbarian Bone was unwilling to lower the quality, then they would have to raise the prices. What kind of liquor would you gentlemen like? The two wandering heroes, being hearty and bold, dered loudly, The stronger, the better. Im known in the jianghu as the man who never gets drunk after a thousand cups! The other boasted, Im known in the jianghu as the man who never falls after ten thousand cups! Lu Yang thought to himself, stop bragging; can you handle two pots of ethanol (pure alcohol)? Eventually, Lu Yang served them two pots of Lao Bai Gan (TL Note: This is a real alcohol brand that has been brewed for over 2000 years https://baike.baidu/item/%E8%80%81%E7%99%BD%E5%B9%B2/3064104), hoping their tolerance matched their boasts. Lu Yang, greeting customers at the door, shouted, Please take a number and line up, no cutting. Weve preparedplimentary tea and snacks for you to enjoy while you wait. A table will be avable shortly! And, bringing new customers doesnt get you a discount, so please stop bringing in new people! Lu Yang wasnt sure if it would work, but he decided to announce it anyway to prevent the real possibility of opening a chain. The waiting customers were restless, bombarding him with questions. Can we book in advance? Do you deliver? Can we reserve the entire ce? Among those lining up were not only wandering heroes but also cultivators, all with deep pockets. You can book in advance, and we can deliver if youre not too far away, though there will be an additional service fee. Reserving the entire ce is also possible. Lu Yang hoped someone would reserve the entire ce for a quieter atmosphere. Attention, Qin Yuanhao has left his house. Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone received Meng Jingzhous message simultaneously, and Lu Yang felt a sense of relief. Ill follow him. Youe down and take my ce. And keep an eye on him, Barbarian Bone, dont let anything unexpected happen, Lu Yang, proficient in the arts of Ground Shrinking and Inch Turning, had the advantage in bothbat and tracking. Lu Yang couldnt just shrink into the ground in broad daylight, so he headed to the backyard, where only two specters were. The two specters were busy barbecuing, sweating profusely with movements so fast they nearly left afterimages, wishing they had eight hands to work with. They must have never experienced such a fulfilling and busy life before. By the way, the two specters were dressed in the clothes of traveling merchants they wore in life, to prevent any drunk customers from discovering something amiss if they wandered into the backyard. The trio spent half a day figuring out how to change the ghosts clothes. From Daoist rituals and Buddhist chanting to consulting texts and verifying legends, the ordeal nearly drained the specters of their spirits. Fortunately, Lu Yang discovered the simplest methodburning clothes for the specters to wear. (TL Note: In chinese culture, burning offerings is thought to send them to their rtives in the after life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_paper) Busy with their work, the specters didnt notice Lu Yangs arrival. He easily shrank into the ground and carefully followed Qin Yuanhao. Meng Jingzhou quickly changed clothes to rece Lu Yang, casually flippingmb skewers while saying, Lamb skewers ready, enjoy your meal, sir. As for thesemb skewers, theye with quite a story. Let me tell you slowly. There was a day, on the northern grasnds, when a radiant light shone, and a baby was born Qin Yuanhao moved through the shadows, his figure blending seamlessly with the night, even bypassing pedestrians without their notice. Could it be a technique rted to shadows or perhaps a technique associated with darkness? Lu Yang observed in secret, trying to gather as much information as possible. He had read extensively to create his own techniques and had a good understanding of various techniques. Lu Yang continued to follow Qin Yuanhao. Qin Yuanhao walked through the muddy path to a winding alley, emitting a sour stench that even Lu Yang, hiding underground, could smell. Hearing Qin Yuanhaos footsteps quicken, Lu Yang knew his mood wasnt too good. Qin Yuanhao frowned, disliking the ce. With a grim face, he kicked open a door, startling a sleepingckey awake. Still in the mood for sleep! Theckey hurriedly got up, trembling, unsure why his boss was angry. They had been working diligently, never daring to ck off. Was it wrong to sleep at night after working all day? Unlike their boss, who stayed upte and rosete, their schedules were much more regr than his. Qin Yuanhao kicked theckey against the wall, angrily demanding, Why hasnt anyone reported to me these past few days? Where are the people I asked you to find? Feeling as if his chest had been struck by a giant hammer, theckey said grievously, Boss, you were the one who said, Donte to see me if you cant find the person.'' We couldnt find the person you mentioned and dared not see you. How can following your orders be wrong? Theckey felt wronged. Whatever the boss said, theckeys would do. Yet, the boss was still not satisfied, making him hard to serve. Qin Yuanhao: He actually found theckeys argument reasonable but still felt the urge to hit someone. What to do? Couldnt you have written a letter if you didnte to see me? But you also said important matters must be reported in person. Didnt I also say special situations require special treatment! Qin Yuanhao roared. You did say special situations require special treatment, but you also said what constitutes a special situation needs to be discussed internally, and then you would make the final decision. Did you discuss it? We discussed it two days ago and unanimously agreed this was a special situation that required your decision. Then why didnt I see you for my decision! You said important matters must be reported in person, and since we couldnt find the person spreading rumors, we couldnt see you. Qin Yuanhao: Am I going to be talked to death here today? Qin Yuanhao took several deep breaths, reminding himself not to kill anyone. Although theseckeys were rigid andcked flexibility, they were loyal to him and strictly followed his orders without any deviation. Killing ackey would dishearten those below him. And he didnt have many trustworthy subordinates to begin with; killing more would leave him with none. So hows the search for this person going? If you cant find the person, there should at least be some clues, right? Qin Yuanhao stared at theckey, who dared to say there were no clues, might not live to see another day! Do they really think I dare not kill? Theckey muttered quietly about not finding anyone, but seeing his bosss murderous look, he quickly added, You know the person youre looking for stands out, easily attracting attention on the streets. Its been four days, and despite our efforts, we havent found him. Not to mention, we only found one who fits the description of being eight feet tall and wide, but he doesnt have pockmarks on his face nor does he eat children, and hes quite pleasant-looking. Who is it? Qin Yuanhao thought, never mind if the appearance matches or not, just kill someone of the same size to scare the others, so they wouldnt underestimate him! Its the mascot of the tofu seller on Qianmen Street. Ill kill you! (End of the chapter) Chapter 57: Harvest Chapter 57: Harvest Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The business philosophy of the Land of Gold Commerce was quite advanced. To increase its brand recognition, they created the concept of a brand mascot, designed by the renowned painter Xuandaozi. After three revisions, the initial draft for the mascot was finalized. The initial draft featured a little chubby pig holding coins, looking very pleasing. After Land of Gold Commerce introduced its brand mascot, it indeed increased its poprity significantly, with many businesses following suit and creating their own mascots. One such business was a tofu shop on the main street of Yanjiang County. Qin Yuanhao didnt actually kill hisckey. After calming down, he realized that if hisckey, who usually performed his duties reliably and never made mistakes, said they couldnt find the person, then they truly couldnt have. It couldnt possibly be the tofu shops mascot stirring up trouble. With such a conspicuous appearance and still not found, it seems like someone within the demonic sect wants to frame me! Qin Yuanhao sneered, easily guessing that this was done deliberately, although he wasnt sure who was behind it. Such schemes were not umon in the demonic sect, and Qin Yuanhao himself had done his share of sabotaging his peers. So much time had passed without any clues, and Qin Yuanhao could only swallow this bitter pill, nning to figure out who to settle scores withter. Since he cant be found, then theres no need to keep looking. Qin Yuanhao pulled out a stack of papers and a few silver coins from his robe and threw them to hisckey. This was also one of the reasons he didnt kill anyone. Someone had to do the tasks arranged by the rudder master, and where would he find people if he killed them now? First thing tomorrow morning, gather the brothers and spread these papers in the ck markets of the nearby eight counties. This money is for your monthly wages and travel expenses. Did you hear me clearly? I, I heard you clearly, theckey jumped at Qin Yuanhaos final shout. Louder. I HEARD YOU CLEARLY! Theckey straightened his back and shouted again, his neck turning red. The neighbordy yelled through the wall, clearly hearing the shout, Do you know what time it is, shouting like that! The neighbordys voice was even louder than theckeys. A flicker of murderous intent crossed Qin Yuanhaos eyes. Big brother, shes a Foundation Building cultivator who came here to live in seclusion, theckey quickly exined. Many cultivators liked to mingle in the mortal world; perhaps even the street food vendor could be a cultivator. Qin Yuanhao snorted coldly and left without saying more. Theckey yawned, relieved that the boss had finally left, and fell asleep. He had to get up early for work tomorrow. Theckey often received some inexplicable tasks from Qin Yuanhao. For confidentiality, Qin Yuanhao told them nothing, just to do as instructed. This time was no different. After theckey fell asleep, Lu Yang emerged from the ground, took the three papers, and followed Qin Yuanhao. Qin Yuanhao hade out just to instruct hisckey and then returned. When Qin Yuanhao passed by the Come Again barbecue shop, he paused. Ive been in seclusion for just four days, and a new barbecue shop opened? And its this popr? Qin Yuanhao entertained the idea of having a meal there. The crowd wasnt an issue; he could always cut in line. After all, having a Foundation Building cultivatore to this small ce for a meal and not being greeted with kneeling was already good enough, let alone waiting in line. In the end, Qin Yuanhao dismissed the thought. Barbecue was best enjoyed with a group; eating alone just wasnt as fun. Maybe another time. Qin Yuanhao headed home. Lu Yang returned to help at the barbecue shop and saw Meng Jingzhou performing a stand-upedy act, much to the delight of the customers who mored for more. Lu Yang took a deep breath, wondering if the two really intended to expand the business. Sensing Lu Yangs prating gaze, Meng Jingzhou quickly stopped talking and diligently resumed his duties as a server, ignoring the customers calls for an encore. After a while, the customers gradually left, and the barbecue shop finally quieted down. The two specters cleaned up the grills and dishes, tallied the days ingredient consumption, and estimated the amount needed for the next day. The three men sat on the second floor, discussing the days earnings. How much did we make today? Meng Jingzhou asked, rubbing his hands together excitedly, finding the experience of starting a business from scratch very fulfilling. Who told you that was the harvest! Lu Yang mmed the table and red, Have you forgotten what were here for? To start a chain? Barbarian Bone was still thinking about expanding the family business. Lu Yang decided to ignore the two fools and took out the three pieces of paper, recounting the evenings surveince of Qin Yuanhao. nk paper? Meng Jingzhou inspected one of the papers back and front but couldnt make sense of it. Lu Yang wasnt sure how to use the paper either. Qin Yuanhao instructed his men to distribute these papers in the ck market. There must be information on them; we just dont know how to read it. Could it be a method ofmunication unique to the demonic path? Meng Jingzhou nodded, agreeing with Lu Yangs spection. Its very likely. Those sneaky guys always like to use some kind of code. This paper is meant for all demonic cultivators, who should all be able to understand it. If we, at the Foundation Building stage, cant see the writing on it, its even less likely for Qi Cultivation stage demonic cultivators to see it. So, the issue isnt with the code, but with the paper itself. Lu Yang thought for a moment, then toasted the paper over charcoal. Whats this for? Barbarian Bone asked, puzzled. Lu Yang carefully toasted the paper, casually exining, I read in a book that if you write on paper with sugar water, the paper appears nk after drying. The sugar needs to be heated to remove the water, revealing brown text. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone found this piece of knowledge interesting. After about five minutes, the paper remained nk, and Lu Yang had to abandon this method. Lu Yang then summoned a small ball of water in his palm, bursting it suddenly, and the resulting spray of water droplets fell on the paper. What are you doing now? Lu Yang exined, Special liquids like shower gel andundry detergent absorb water well. If you write with these liquids and let it dry, it appears nk. Only by sprinkling water on the paper, utilizing the different absorption rates, can the text be revealed. The Central Continent, despite seeming ancient, was not exactly so. Due to the presence of magic, whether intentionally or coincidentally, many products not belonging to the ancient era appeared. Unfortunately, the paper still showed nothing. Undeterred, Lu Yang pondered a new method. Since this is a way ofmunication among the demonic path, maybe it requires a methodmonly used in the demonic path to reveal it? Lu Yang bit his thumb, and a few drops of blood fell on the paper. The blood seemed toe alive, moving across the paper. Indeed, this is a paper refining method of the demonic path. We cant judge it by ordinary standards, Lu Yang sighed in relief, finally seeding. The invisible grooves on the paper seemed to fill with blood, forming text. On the first day of the fourth month, the Evesting Sects Yanjiang Rudder will recruit followers. The specific location will be announced the day before the recruitment. (End of the chapter) Chapter 58: That Isn’t How You Perform the Shape-Imitating Fist Chapter 58: That Isnt How You Perform the Shape-Imitating Fist Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The Evesting Sect, one of the four major demonic sects. The Evesting Sect, I remember they worship the Evesting Being who is said to live forever, undying and unaging. By being a loyal follower of the Evesting Sect, one can avoid the three disasters and five cmities of cultivation, extending ones lifespan, Meng Jingzhou recalled information about the Evesting Sect. These were basic facts, easily found with a little effort, though the truthfulness of the details couldnt be guaranteed. The Evesting Sect recruiting is indeed a good opportunity. With the mixed crowd, the threshold will be much lower, and the identity check wont be as strict, Lu Yang was pleased, seeing this as great news. He was worried that without any authentic demonic cultivation techniques, they wouldnt pass scrutiny with just their method ofmanding ghost servants. Qin Yuanhaos news came just in time, a stroke of luck. Are we still going to kill Qin Yuanhao? Barbarian Bone asked, wondering if it was still necessary. Hes a menace either way. If possible, kill him, but dont use his bone token, Lu Yang stated. Regardless of whether they could infiltrate the demonic sect, Qin Yuanhao was a target. Reaching the mid orte stage of Foundation Building in the demonic sect meant having several lives on ones hands. Dont think that Qin Yuanhao was merciful for not killing hisckey; theckey was still useful. As long as theckey could move and was useful to Qin Yuanhao, he lived. Once useless, death was certain. Why not use the bone token? While eating skewers served by the two specters, Lu Yang exined, Rtions among members of the demonic sect arent as good as we imagined. By framing Qin Yuanhao, hell conclude someone within the sect is against him. Using Qin Yuanhaos bone token to enter the sect wouldbel us as his allies, possibly causing troubles everywhere. Its not worth it. Barbarian Bone had an epiphany. But the sect is cautious enough to prevent their location from leaking, announcing it only the day before. Are they afraid of being discovered and eradicated by the righteous path? Lu Yang chuckled. Continue tracking Qin Yuanhao, see if we can find the location of Yanjiang Rudder in advance. Its good to be prepared. Its gettingte. If you need to cultivate, you should cultivate, if you need to rest, you should rest. Lets call it a day. The next morning, Lu Yang yawned, got dressed, and had breakfast with everyonea beef offal soup made by Barbarian Bone. By then, Barbarian Bone had already returned from the market with a cart full of pork, beef, andmb. The beef marrow bones were simmered to make a broth seasoned with salt and other spices. After simmering for a while, a steaming bowl of beef offal soup was ready. Add more tripe, Lu Yang called out. Right away. After a satisfying breakfast, everyone went about their tasks. It was Barbarian Bones turn to monitor, so after breakfast, he headed to the second floor, prepared to sit there all day. Meng Jingzhou, unable to stay idle, probably went off to cause mischief somewhere. The two specters were busy dividing the meat, chopping vegetables, threading skewers, and by evening, they were ready to greet customers, moving to the backyard to light the charcoal and grill all night long. They worked from dawn till dusk, leading a fulfilling life. Lu Yang had his own tasks. He took out Shape-Imitating Fist, hoping to at least reach the beginner level. He had never practiced martial arts before and was uncertain. Theres a first time for everything. Lu Yang set up a basic sound istion array in the backyard, blocking external noise and preventing his own sound from escaping. He sat cross-legged, earnestly flipping through the book: Shape-Imitating Fist, a martial art that imitates the characteristics and forms of various animals as well as depicting the images of humanbat and daily life, includes Tiger Fist, Monkey Fist, Eagle w Fist, Snake Fist, etc. This book only contains Tiger Fist. Tiger Fist emphasizes imitating the form of a tiger, acquiring the tigers techniques, infusing them with rationale, and integrating them into the spirit of the fist. Tiger Fist routines are short, concise, andpact, with smaller steps and movements, primarily using the three-seven step. To master Tiger Fist, the most dangerous step is observing tigers, preferably having experience fighting a tiger. This way, one can profoundly understand the tigersbat style and better imitate it. The hardest step of Tiger Fist was actually easy for Lu Yang, who had fought and defeated a tiger demon. Lu Yang slowly closed his eyes. Growls, pounces, tears The tiger demons various attacks surfaced in Lu Yangs mind, vivid as if happening right before him. Though the tiger demon was in by him, Lu Yang had to admit it was a formidable foe with aspects worth learning from. Of course, calling for his wifes help was unnecessary and, for the time being, unlearnable. The image of the tiger demon and Lu Yangs own figure gradually ovepped, merging into one, with the human figure acquiring the tigers techniques. Lu Yang repeatedly simted the movements of Tiger Fist in his mind, with initially awkward actions bing increasingly agile, as if possessed by a fierce tiger, roaring in his thoughts. This was something only Foundation Building cultivators could achieve, requiring a high demand on spiritual consciousness, impossible for mortal warriors. Lu Yang opened his eyes, fierce and tiger-like. He leaped up, firmly standing on the ground, posed ready, exhaling forcefully, powering his breath, stomping to bolster his presence, fierce and forceful. The two specters in the house, hearing Lu Yangs punches, were startled, fearing the tiger demon had revived. Peeking at Lu Yang through the door, they rxed upon seeing it wasnt the tiger demon and continued their work. Afterpleting a set, Lu Yang felt energized, full of inexhaustible strength. He seized the feeling to perform several more sets, each smoother than thest, each move strong and powerful. Regardless of its applicability inbat, even a Tiger Fist master couldnt find fault with Lu Yangs performance. Not quite right, theres room for improvement. Lu Yangs movements sped up, his mind calm like a stillke, each gesture revealing deeper insights into the fist technique. Punching, kicking As his understanding deepened, the shadow of the tiger demon faintly appeared behind him. Roar Reaching a peak in his insight, Lu Yangs understanding culminated in a vigorous tiger roar. Why am I lying on the ground? Lu Yang came back to his senses, puzzled why he couldnt stand, his legs weak after several attempts. Whats happening? Lu Yang couldnt understand the issue with practicing the fist technique, considering his supposed talent for it. Lu Yang had a bad feeling and crawled to a water tank to see his reflection. He had turned into a tiger. A grand achievement in Tiger Fist, indeed. Lu Yang, guess what I saw in town, a tofu shop with a fascinating mascot. Meng Jingzhou returned from his wanderings, curious to see Lu Yangs progress in the backyard. Then, he saw a tiger demon looking into a mirror by the water tank. Damn, a monster! (End of the chapter) Chapter 59: Lu Family's Shape-Imitating Fist Chapter 59: Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Damn, a monster! Meng Jingzhou yelled, winding up to strike. Its understandable why he reacted this way. The backyard was supposed to be where Lu Yang practiced his fists, but now, with Lu Yang missing and a tiger appearing instead, it was easy to assume the tiger demon had revived and devoured Lu Yang. The tiger demon spoke humannguage, emitting a voice identical to Lu Yangs: Your grandpas a monster, its me! It even sounds like Lu Yang! Meng Jingzhou was astonished. The tiger, which was actually Lu Yang, pinned Meng Jingzhou to the ground before he could react, coldly huffing. There were no signs of a struggle in the yard, making it clear to Meng Jingzhou that it was indeed Lu Yang, despite his feigned ignorance. Meng Jingzhou clicked his tongue, not really hurt by Lu Yangs mock attack given his robust constitution. He got up, dusting off, and eyed Lu Yang skeptically: Whats going on here? Werent you supposed to beprehending the Shape-Imitating Fist? Why did you switch to transformation magic? Just wait, let me figure out how to change back. The tiger, Lu Yang, tried to scratch his head with his front paw, only to realize he couldnt reach and decided against it to preserve his dignity. The tiger, Lu Yang, grimaced, not anticipating suchplications from practicing the fist technique. Now, he considered, only his swordsmanship seemed normal. Should it be said that it befits a sword spirit root? Meng Jingzhou hurriedly went upstairs to fetch Barbarian Bone. Whats up? I was keeping an eye on Qin Yuanhao. Got something fun for you to see. Barbarian Bone, confused, was dragged down by Meng Jingzhou to the backyard, only to encounter the familiar tiger demon. A monster, return my brother Lus life! Barbarian Bone shouted, ready to fight, not having processed the situation fully. This was serious. Seeing Barbarian Bones reaction, Meng Jingzhou quickly intervened, Stop, stop, its Lu Yang. The two specters, busy skewering in the hall, were drawn by themotion to sneak a peek, getting the fright of their lives. The tiger demon truly revived this time! The tiger, Lu Yang, rolled his eyes, too annoyed to deal with them, focusing instead on how to revert from his tiger state. He closed his eyes, repeating the mantra to return to his original form three times. When Lu Yang opened his eyes, he had returned to human form. After a series of events, the three finally had the chance to sit down and ponder what had just happened, while the two specters sighed in relief and continued their skewering work, anticipating a busier night than before. Heres what happened, I was practicing the Shape-Imitating Fist Lu Yang began to exin. Barbarian Bone, shocked by the revtion, blurted out, Is this Shape-Imitating Fist or Transforming Fist? Indeed, the sage was right; one must travel extensively and read widely. Such urrences arent covered in books; its better to experience the world alongside Brother Lu and Brother Meng. A broader perspective gained. Meng Jingzhous reaction wasnt much better than Barbarian Bones, giving Lu Yang odd looks. You were supposed to be practicing a martial art, and youre telling me you were just throwing punches? Who else could achieve such an oue from martial practice? Initially, Meng Jingzhou thought that Lu Yangs practice of ghost-driving techniques, culminating in his soul exiting his body, was bizarre enough, but this new development was even more peculiar. Lu Yang defended his unique interpretation of the Shape-Imitating Fist: Think about it, isnt the essence of Shape-Imitating Fist all about imitating animals? Like Tiger Fist, Monkey Fist, Crane Fist, and so on, mimicking tigers, monkeys, cranes, right? Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone nodded in agreement. Lu Yang continued, Right, so the closer the imitation, the better the effect and the greater the power, correct? Again, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone nodded. Ive recently encountered a tiger demon, so Im most familiar with the Tiger Fist. Its the quickest for me to learn and the one I can imitate most closely, right? Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone kept nodding. So, with that thought, I practiced the fist, and as I did, I turned into a tiger. Makes sense, right? Meng Jingzhou was about to nod but then forcefully stopped himself: Makes sense, my foot! Thats a huge leap! Barbarian Bone, however, continued nodding innocently. Lu Yang spread his hands, the most bewildered of all. He had earnestly followed the fist manual, only adding a bit of his personal insight: Why dont you two try it? Maybe you could learn transformation through this method? Excited by the prospect, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were thrilled at the thought of learning transformation through practicing the fist. Although transformation was typically used by sneaky cultivators, having an extra skill wouldnt hurt, especially if it came in handy one day. With Lu Yang, a master of the technique, guiding them, they quickly learned the Tiger Fist, executing it with impressive ferocity. However, they couldnt manage the crucial aspect of transformation. While they practiced, Lu Yang wasnt idle. Observing their movements sparked another idea in him. If the Shape-Imitating Fist was about imitation, why limit it to animals? Why not humans? This thought, wild as a runaway horse, couldnt be contained. The premise of Shape-Imitating Fist was familiarity with the subject of imitation. Seeing Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone intensely practicing, Lu Yang had an epiphany. Having grasped the essence of the Shape-Imitating Fist, it was time for innovation. To progress, we must innovate! Lu Yang immediately set to work, recalling Barbarian Bones movements and mirroring them. Barbarian Bone, recognizing his own actions in Lu Yang, was initially puzzled. Is that me? he quickly realized, confused about Lu Yangs intentions. Lu Yang, immersed in profound insight, began to transform, astonishingly taking on Barbarian Bones appearance. Ha! I knew my hypothesis was correct, Lu Yangughed, though it was a bit unsettlinging from Barbarian Bones face. Barbarian Bone was stunned. How had he suddenly be someone else? This was far removed from his understanding of the Shape-Imitating Fist. Was it possible to mimic humans as well? Barbarian Bone, you canugh like that too Wait, the real or fake Barbarian Bone? Meng Jingzhou, distracted from his practice by the unusualughter, turned to find two Barbarian Bones. Its wrong. The new Barbarian Bone is Lu Yang transformed! Meng Jingzhou gave Lu Yang a thorough look-over. Indeed, he resembled Barbarian Bone closely, but the expressions and demeanor were a stark contrast. Where Barbarian Bone exuded an aura of simplicity and honesty, the Barbarian Bone that Lu Yang transformed into seemed to be scheming, a trickster at heart. He had already given up on learning the Shape-Imitating Fist. Initially, he entertained the thought of mastering the fist to transform, but upon witnessing Lu Yangs transformation, he realized such feats were beyond his reach. This had strayed far from the essence of the Shape-Imitating Fist. After mastering the technique, Lu Yang smoothly transitioned from imitating Barbarian Bone to Meng Jingzhou. So, this really is a transformation technique, isnt it? This is Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist. Lu Yang, with his hands sped behind his back and looking up at a forty-five-degree angle, truly embodied the demeanor of a martial arts master. (And dont ask why Lu Yang still had clothes on after transforming from a tiger demon back to human form; this is an upright novel.) (TL Note: This was put by the author LOL) (End of the chapter) Chapter 60: The Constable and the Thief Chapter 60: The Constable and the Thief Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii My Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist is profound and vast, not something that a mere single spiritual root like you could fullyprehend. As the saying goes, the heavens have nineyers above, and the earth has nineyers below, the Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist also has nine levels. Now, I have barely reached the first level, but once I cultivate to a deeper level, I can obtain the power, spells, and even the cultivation level of whatever I transform into. In future years, if I practice to the ninth level, I could be a powerful being capable of transcending tribtion, and even suppressing the senior sister would be within my capabilities! Lu Yang spoke with pride, convincing Barbarian Bone to take his words for truth. Barbarian Bone quietly asked Meng Jingzhou, Is what Brother Lu said true? Meng Jingzhou rolled his eyes, True my ass, its clearly made up. If youre willing to listen, I coulde up with eight different versions for you. Barbarian Bone voiced his acknowledgment, impressed by the ease with which Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou spun lies. Several days have passed since Lu Yang endowed the Shape-Imitating Fist with a new meaning, and the number of customers kept increasing daily, some even tipping with spirit stones. Why are there still so many people even after we raised our prices? Lu Yang gritted his teeth in frustration, especially since yesterday, thergest restaurant in Yanjiang County had expressed interest in purchasing their recipe. Only he was frustrated, while Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were quite pleased. Today, it was Barbarian Bones turn to supervise Qin Yuanhao, leaving Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to serve as waiters downstairs. Meng Jingzhou, suppressing the urge to perform stand-upedy, telepathically said, I heard that a group of cultivators dined here a few days ago and couldnt stop praising our food, saying it was even better than what theyve had from spiritual chefs they know. And so, word spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred, and now many cultivators know about our restaurant. Despite the prevalence of spiritual chefs in the Dao Seeking Sect, they are actually a very niche type of cultivator, with only a handful in Yanjiang County, mostly at the Qi Cultivation stage, and only one at the Foundation Building stage. Spiritual chefs prioritize the harmonious intery of the five elements, creating food that is both delicious and capable of enhancing cultivation, achieving a unity of both effects. Barbarian Bones skewers might not enhance cultivation, but they win in taste. The cultivators in Yanjiang County figured if they couldnt eat spiritual chefs food to boost their cultivation, why not enjoy skewers that taste even better than those made by spiritual chefs? Despite being ten times more expensive than regr skewers, they are considered great value for money in the eyes of cultivators. We have a bit of fame among the upper echelons in Yanjiang County, and many well-off ordinary people also follow the trend to dine here, seemingly as a form of bragging. Our business experience might soon spread across the continent, are you happy about that? Im happy my ass. Lu Yang rolled his eyes, weing the new customers. Boss, the first floor is full, cant we go to the second floor? A customer, noticing the light on the second floor, thought it was a good spot. The second floor is currently under renovation and not open to the public, please understand. Although he had no intention of expanding the barbecue restaurant, Lu Yang still diligently yed the role of a waiter, without any ck in his work. The customers, having no choice, obediently went to the back of the line. Ha, its finally our turn, boss, Ive brought my brothers again! A few constables dressed in ck uniforms arrived at the barbecue restaurant, their waist badges and long swords signifying their authority, imposing a sense of deterrence. The people lined up behind them were unwilling to get too close, feeling a natural fear towards them. Constable Wei, youvee. Lu Yang smiled, seemingly very familiar with these individuals. These people were the constables of Yanjiang County, led by a man surnamed Wei with a beard, who spoke with great authority. He was nicknamed Iron-faced Constable, and his cultivation level was not low, at the Foundation Building stage. Not only petty thugs but even members of the demonic sects preferred not to cross paths with them, fearing they would attract trouble. The constables behind him were also no ordinary individuals, with the least among them at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. In the world of immortals and martial arts, one couldnt serve as a constable without some level of cultivation. This was Wei Constables fourth visit, and through these visits, Lu Yang had be familiar with him. Initially, some people, relying on their higher cultivation or status, attempted to skip the queue. However, once they learned that Constable Wei often came here forte-night snacks, they dared not unt their status. Just finished my shift and changed shifts, so I brought my brothers here for some skewers. And you know, your skewers really have something special, unforgettable after just one taste, Constable Wei said, smacking his lips at the thought of the skewers from this shop. Being a constable is not easy, eh? Working night shifts every two days, Lu Yang remarked as he led them to a private room. Once in the private room, Constable Wei and his men took off their coats. Sigh, its been troublesometely. For some reason, many cultivators have flooded into Yanjiang County, and they dont seem to be up to any good, putting a lot of pressure on public security. The county governor has issued strict orders to ensure theres no trouble. Had no choice but to increase patrols with my brothers. After patrolling, wee here to reward them. Seeing Lu Yang was busy, Constable Wei didnt say much more and started ordering. The same set asst time? Lu Yang asked, as Constable Wei had ordered the same skewers during his previous three visits. This time, lets try something new. Ive wanted to try itst time but was stopped by my brothers. Give us ten skewers of grilled eyes, ten of grilled silkworm pupae, and ten centipedes, Constable Wei quickly made his order before his brothers could react. His brothers groaned in dismay, those items didnt sound edible at all. Look at you, pampered and spoiled. One of these days, Ill take you out on a mission in the wilderness for half a month without allowing any fasting pills, and see what youll eat! Once the food and drinks were served, Constable Wei and his men enjoyed themselves immensely. Getting into the spirit, the brothers started to vent their frustrations, cursing andining. Damn it, those thieves recently are too slick, not leaving any trace of their crimes. It must be the work of cultivators, otherwise, even veterans couldnt be this clean. Im guessing its those outsiders, those cultivators. When we catch those bastards, Ill whip them a hundred and eighty times before throwing them into the water prison! The thieves were running rampant, yet they couldnt catch anyone, making Constable Wei lose face, The governor even ordered me to solve this case within a month. If hes so capable, why doesnt he do it himself? Today, those thieves stole from the Li and Lu households, and Li is even the governors rtive. Tomorrow, the governor will definitely pressure me again. In the neighboring private room. A leader-like patronid out todays loot on the dining table, Todays haul was worth it, same old rule, I take forty percent, and the rest is split among the brothers. The brothers were all smiles, today was indeed a great harvest, Beforeing here, I heard how formidable Constable Wei was, even called Iron-faced Constable, but it seems hes nothing special, not even catching a whiff of us! Thats too harsh, at least give the man some credit for being able to smell something. Those Li and Lu families really are wealthy, especially this Mr. Ma, not high in cultivation but with plenty of valuable items. Come on, lets eat and drink to our hearts content today, my treat. No one is allowed to sober up, were going to drink till we drop! The thieves drank merrily, and one of them, after a trip to the restroom, identally entered Constable Weis room. Uhbig brother, why have you all changed appearances, and gotten uglier? Where did this drunkarde from, scram! one of the constables said impatiently, frustrated about where to find the thieves and now having to deal with a drunkard causing trouble. The man, furious, attempted to fight but was no match for a group of constables and was quickly thrown out. The constables noticed the man had some cultivation but didnt think much of it, continuing their drinking andints. Feeling aggrieved, the man went back toin to his boss. The thieves, drunk and riled up, were outraged when they heard their brother was bullied. The boss, in a show of solidarity, mmed the table and arrogantly dered, Well, well, daring to bully us? Tell the neighbors, if they have the guts,e here to face me, anyone who doesnt is a coward! (End of the chapter) Chapter 61: Such Proactive Performance Is Rare Chapter 61: Such Proactive Performance Is Rare Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Who dares to bully my brother! roared the thief leader, his presencemanding as he had his subordinate call the others over. If he, as the leader, didnt stand up for his brother, how could he maintain his authority in the future? With the support of their leader, the thiefs confidence surged. He kicked open the door of the neighboring room, shouting, My boss says you cant just bully me and get away with it. He wants to have a talk with you. Whoever doesnt show up is a coward! The constables were startled; in their decades of service, they had never encountered anyone who dared to provoke them directly. Constable Wei shook his head and smiled. With his extensive experience, he had seen all sorts of situations, but this was just a group of fools looking for trouble. Such cases that fell into theirp were rare even in a lifetime of being a constable. Whos afraid! Lets go! The thieves were eager to make a statement. Being new to the area and aspiring to join the demonic sect, they knew they couldnt make a name for themselves just by stealing. It was time for a dazzling debut! Then the thieves saw a group of constables, armed with official swords and waist badges indicating their authority, storm into the room. The constables were shocked to see tablesden with gold, silver, jewels, rare medicinal herbs, and spirit stones and crystals. Arent these the very items that were reported stolen just a while ago? The constables: Constable Wei: The thieves: If I say I found these by the roadside, would you believe me? Constable Wei had never encountered such a scene before; this was his first time seeing criminals literally walk into their own trap. The thiefs younger brother, still unaware of what had happened, continued to shout for their leader to take action. Boss, show them what were made of! While ranting, he also made bold ims: See my bosss thinning hair? He plucks a hair for every person he kills! Hes known in the underworld as the harbinger of gloom! See the one wearing an eyepatch? Thats my second brother. He lost his eye fighting ate-stage Foundation Building powerhouse. That powerhouse didnt fare much better, ending up blinded by my brother! Hes known as the desperate second brother! And my third brothers leg? He was surrounded by over a hundred royal guards while stealing from the pce and escaped at the cost of his leg! Hes known as the swift flier! The thief leader, along with his second and third inmand, kicked the talkative subordinate over. Quiet, you talk too much. So, who was it that said anyone who doesnt show up is a coward? Constable Wei asked with a menacing smile, ming them for his consecutive night shifts. Im the coward, Im the coward, stammered the thief leader, trembling with fear. The thieves dared not fight back, seeing the constables blocking the door. They crashed through the walls and ran towards the hall, their specialty being speed rather thanbat, especially since none of them were even at the Foundation Building stage, with the leader only at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. You run through the front door, the rest follow me through the back!manded the thief leader, directing his men to split up and escape. Lu Yang, noticing themotion, quickly grasped the situation and found it amusing. Thieves and constables separated by just a wall, and the thieves even challenging the constables? Wait, if they try to escape through the backyard, what if the constables discover the specters? Lu Yang quickly realized the implications; if the specters were destroyed, who would do the grilling, and how would they continue to run the barbecue shop and monitor Qin Yuanhao? The thief leader, seeing Lu Yang seemingly frozen in shock at the back door, reached out to throw Lu Yang aside. Lu Yang, holding a pot of dumpling soup, spilled it as the thief leader approached menacingly. The thief leader, not anticipating this turn of events, raised a shield of spiritual energy to block the dumpling soup. Dyed by this moment, Constable Wei pulled out a chain, slithering like a snake, and ensnared the thief leader. Go, bring the rest of them back. This meal was truly worth it. Constable Weis mood lifted, feeling refreshed and as if the world had broadened before him. The troublesome gang of thieves was finally apprehended, a stroke of good fortune. Constable Wei patted Lu Yang on the shoulder,ughing heartily, If it werent for your intervention, that kid might have actually gotten away! Acting bravely for a just cause, wait for it, Ill bring you a banner of honor tomorrow! Lu Yang hurriedly waved it off, saying it wasnt necessary, but Constable Wei, insistent in his joy, insisted on presenting one. The scuffle between the constables and the thieves was so intense it damaged a wall, leaving the entire hall in disarray, filled with dust. The patrons had to leave early, but witnessing the constables catching criminals firsthand was worth it. This barbecue shop really is a great ce, huh? The constables can catch people just by sitting here. It was worth the visit; you cant buy this kind of entertainment with money. This ce must be a nexus of good fortune, for the business to boom in such a short time. Even if its delicious, the level of poprity is somewhat exaggerated; there must be a certain degree of luck involved. Seeing the constables catch someone today proves it. Looks like I need toe here more often, to rub off some of that luck. Sounds like a n, letse together next time. Listening to the gradually fading discussion of the people, Lu Yang felt a sense of pessimism about the future of the barbecue shopit was destined to grow bigger and stronger. Ill bring the money for the wall repairs along with the banner tomorrow! Constable Wei waved at Lu Yang, leaving this message before escorting the unlucky thieves away. Lu Yang stood at the doorway, sighing, then noticed Qin Yuanhao leaving his residence once again. Brother Lu, Qin Yuanhao has left his house again, Barbarian Bone transmitted from the second floor. He was diligent in his duties, unconcerned with themotion downstairs, always keeping an eye on Qin Yuanhaos movements. I saw it. You and Jingzhou fix the damaged wall, Ill follow Qin Yuanhao. Understood. Lu Yang used the ground-shrinking technique to follow Qin Yuanhao once more. Meng Jingzhoumented from behind, Lu Yangs talent for spells is really something, huh? Ive been trying to learn from him for half a day and havent picked up a thing. And I always feel like the incantations he teaches me are rted to spatial spells, is it just my imagination? Meng Jingzhou didnt dwell too much on the issue. Lu Yangs spellcasting talent could only be described as outrageous. Hoping to learn spells from him was nothing but a daydream. Even he, with his single spiritual root, couldnt manage it, let alone others. Lu Yang followed Qin Yuanhao for quite a distance, not hearing Meng Jingzhous words. He noticed that this time, Qin Yuanhao walked with an air of confidence, even humming a cheerful tune, as if he was about to undertake something significant. Qin Yuanhao arrived at arge mansion and, instead of knocking, cast a spell at the door. Soon after, a tall, thin man came out and immediately asked, Is it the day? Todays the day. Ive been preparing for today for a whole half month. Who hasnt? This time, we must make a big score. Ive been so frustrated these past days with no action! Once we pull this off, you have to help me spread the word; lets see who dares to look down on me again! Qin Yuanhao said, revealing a cruel smile. Absolutely. The tall, thin man was known in the Yanjiang Rudder for being a big talker. The conversation was cryptic, with theirughter carrying a cold edge. Lu Yang was alert, unsure of what the two were nning. They walked into a bustling district, where one building, decorated in bright, eye-catching colors, stood out. Qin Yuanhao and the tall, thin man entered, receiving a warm wee. Lu Yang looked up at the signboard, Brothel. (TL Note: So much for being an upright novel smh) (End of the chapter) Chapter 62: The Location of the Stronghold Chapter 62: The Location of the Stronghold Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Ten minutester, Qin Yuanhao and the tall, thin man left the brothel, devoid of the excitement they had shown upon entering. Lu Yang scratched his temple, surprised at how quickly they had left. At the entrance, the madam handed Qin Yuanhao and the tall, thin man each a slip of paper, which they looked at before immediately destroying. Brother Qin, the helmsman has summoned me for a matter; I need to visit a branch. Ill leave first. Alright, the helmsman has also assigned me a task. Lets part here, and dont forget to spread the word about my visit to the brothel. No problem. The two parted ways in front of the brothel, and Lu Yang, intrigued, decided to follow the tall, thin man. The tall, thin man and Qin Yuanhao, being ofparable cultivation levels, did not notice Lu Yang below them. As they moved on, the passersby and houses became sparse, and they eventually reached a deserted mountain range, with no one in sight. The tall, thin man, seemingly familiar with the area, walked leisurely up the mountain path. The winding path led him to a stop in front of a stone wall after about fifteen minutes. This area, located at the border between Yanjiang County and another jurisdiction, theoretically belongs to Yanjiang County. However, due to historical reasons, both sides have ims over it. Since both sides had ims, neither really governed the area. After all, there was nothing of value here, no need for a dispute. He tapped on the wall in a pattern, three long and one short taps, while muttering, Immortal of eternity, death and rebirth, clear the clouds to see the sun, forever existing in this world. The wall then became as fluid as water. The tall, thin man stepped into the wall and disappeared. This is a cave heaven? Lu Yangs eyes widened in surprise. Cave heavens are spaces created by cultivators proficient in spatial magic, the higher the cultivation, the moreplete the space created. Generally, cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage can create their own spaces. Some cultivators use cave heavens as living spaces for solitude, while others use them as burial sites. Considering the vast number of Nascent Soul stage cultivators throughout history, not to mention those at even higher realms like Soul Transformation, Unity, and Tribtion Transcendence, many cave heavens are left behind after a cultivators death. Most did not disclose the location and method to open their cave heavens, leaving people to rely on luck to find these relics. No one knows how many cave heavens remain undiscovered today. The senior sister said that with the arrival of a great era, more and more cave heavens are being discovered, providing many with the opportunity to rise swiftly. The cave heaven before him likely belonged to a predecessor and was discovered and utilized by the demonic cult. Lu Yang decided not to rashly follow; instead, he quietly waited in the soil for the tall, thin man to emerge. Feeling uneasy about this approach, given this was the Yanjiang Rudder of the demonic cult, filled with unknown numbers of experts, simply hiding in the soil wasnt secure enough. With this thought, Lu Yang moved to a spot where he could just see the entrance to the stronghold, minimized his size with a technique, and used the concealment method provided by Barbarian Bone to hide. About an hourter, a masked man emerged from the stone wall, followed by the tall, thin man. It seemed the masked man held a higher status than the tall, thin man. Hm? The masked man sensed something amiss, expanding his divine consciousness to scan the surroundings, not sparing even the ground. Come out. Ive found you. Dont think youre well-hidden. Show yourself now, and you might be spared from death, the masked man said indifferently. Noting out yet? Dont think that as the helmsman, Im soft-hearted. Ill count to three, and if you dont show yourself, dont me me for not giving you a chance! Three! Two! One! Die! The helmsman concentrated a force in his palm, striking in a direction, producing a thunderous noise. Whats wrong, Helmsman? asked the tall, thin man respectfully. The helmsman shook his head: I felt like someone was watching me. I bluffed but got no reaction; perhaps it was just my imagination. Lu Yang broke out in a cold sweat. He had just considered emerging from the ground to confront the helmsman directly, thinking it might secure him a slim chance of survival. Fortunately, his willpower was strong, and he suppressed this impulse, believing in the Barbarian tribes concealment technique to keep him hidden. Lu Yang felt the helmsmans divine consciousness sweep over him, but the helmsman likely mistook him for a stone and didnt pay further attention. If the helmsman had truly discovered him, he wouldnt have counted down but would have attacked directly. Thank goodness for the Barbarian tribes sophisticated concealment technique. As long as I dont move, I wont be discovered, Lu Yang thought to himself. This helmsman must be at the Golden Core stage. How are the preparations for the selection in ten days? Everything is ready, just waiting for fellow practitioners toe here in ten days to participate in the selection and join us. Thats excellent. I hope this time we can recruit more demonic talents. That way, the headquarters will pay more attention to Yanjiang Rudder. The two talked as they walked, soon disappearing from Lu Yangs sight. Lu Yang remained motionless, fearing revealing his position. Golden Core stage is indeed formidable. Lu Yang waited another half-hour, worried the helmsman, suspicious by nature, might suddenly return. After half an hour, the helmsman did not reappear. Hes gone. Lu Yang left underground. This trip was quite fruitful, not only learning the location of Yanjiang Rudder but also confirming the selection site was here. So tell me, Ghost of Sorrow, whats with your hair? I heard you pluck one out for every person you kill? Constable Wei asked, loungingfortably as the thieves sat opposite him, trembling with fear. No, thats not it. Being a leader is tough, the team is hard to manage, my subordinates cause trouble everywhere, and the stress made my hair fall out. And you, Desperate Second Brother, I heard you fought ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator, blinding his eyes while he blinded one of yours? My eye is fine. Wearing an eyepatch just looks more imposing. When youre out in the jianghu, you need something to talk about. And you, Grass on the Wind, I heard you went to steal from the pce. Youre looking at a life sentence at best, execution at worst. The third brother protested, Its a misunderstanding, sir. I was just in debt and got my leg broken by creditors to cancel the debt. Constable Wei yawned, expecting to hear about significant crimes, but was this all? Constable brother, I confess, I confess, Ive stolen from sixteen homes Constable Wei waved him off, Well get to that. First, tell me, what brought all of you to Yanjiang County all at once? This The thief leader hesitated, weighing the pros and cons of speaking. Constable Wei pointed to the torture room behind him: See those torture instruments? If you dont talk, well use them to help you. The instruments, stained with dark blood, looked particrly sinister, prompting the thieves topete in confessing their stories. Ill say The thieves barely started when they abruptly stopped. If someone were to check behind them, theyd find tiny needles embedded in their necks, needles coated with potent poison! Theres an assassin! Constable Wei, as the most experienced constable, immediately reacted, rushing outside to search for the assassins shadow. But there was no one outside. Inside the interrogation room, the shadows seemed to flow with life, chuckling softly before vanishing. (End of the chapter) Chapter 63: Be Careful, The Opponent Is Tricky Chapter 63: Be Careful, The Opponent Is Tricky Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Constable Wei, youre here so early, but its too early for skewers, Lu Yang joked at the entrance. It was still morning when Constable Wei, apanied by two constables and a banner of honor, arrived at the barbecue shop. Here, I promised you a banner yesterday, so I brought it over. Constable Wei unted the banner on the street, purposefully disying it. The banner read, Acting Righteously, Promoting Virtue, attracting quite a crowd. The two constables hung the banner on the wall directly opposite the entrance of the main hall, making it very conspicuous. Originally, there were two specters skewering in the main hall, but Lu Yang had them move to the backyard earlier to avoid being seen. Lu Yang brought over three cups of tea, casually asking, Did you manage to get anything out of those foolish thieves yesterday? Where are those outsiders from, daring to challenge the renowned Iron-faced Constable? Ah, dont mention it, got nothing out of them, Constable Wei said, gulping down the tea made with boiling water. His Foundation Building stage throat wasnt bothered by the scalding heat. Why is that? The thievescked resolve and confessed under intimidation. Just when they were about to reveal why a group of cultivators came to Yanjiang County, they were killed by an unknown assassin. Nine poisoned cow hair needles were found in their necks, causing instant death. The room was sealed, and its unclear how the assassin got in. At that moment, I instinctively went outside to look for the assassin but found nothing. Later, I realized the assassin must possess some shadow-rted spell, hiding in the shadows in advance. As soon as we began questioning, he killed them, and while I ran outside, he escaped through the shadows. If I had blocked the door then, the assassin wouldnt have escaped. I regret being too angry at the time to consider this! Constable Wei said, frustratedly drinking the tea meant for the other two constables as well. The two constables looked puzzled at Constable Wei; they hadnt even had a sip. Lu Yang saw off the angry Constable Wei and the two unlucky constables who didnt get to drink anything. Meng Jingzhou transmitted, ording to yesterdays n, are we killing Qin Yuanhao? After returningst night, Lu Yang shared what he saw. Knowing the location of Yanjiang Rudder, Qin Yuanhao no longer needed to live. The three made a n overnight to ambush Qin Yuanhao. Specifically, it was a discussion between Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, with Barbarian Bone listening in. No rush, Ive got a new idea, lets prepare a bit more. A man in a ck robe lightly knocked on Qin Yuanhaos door, waiting a long while without anyone answering. The ck-robed man just waited. Finally, the front door opened, but no one was there, as if the door opened automatically. The door opened wide, like the gaping maw of a demon, ready to swallow the ignorant. The ck-robed man walked calmly into the mansion. As soon as he entered, the door mmed shut and bolted, locking the ck-robed man inside. The ck-robed man took out a bone token, announcing loudly, Is Senior Qin Yuanhao present? I am here on behalf of my master to pay a visit. So its one of Brother Tigers specters. The voice came from behind the specter. Qin Yuanhao appeared suddenly, with the specter not noticing from which direction Qin Yuanhao hade, as if he appeared out of thin air. What do you want? My master has thought it over and agrees with what you said. Its good to lean on a big tree for shade. He wants to join Yanjiang Rudder but has some concerns and would like to invite you to Song Mountain for a discussion. Qin Yuanhao looked at the specter with interest: Oh, I thought Brother Hu had no intention of joining Yanjiang Rudder since he hadnt replied. The specter smiled awkwardly: My master takes a long time to make decisions. Qin Yuanhaos expression changed, and he grabbed the specter by the neck: Dare to y tricks in front of me? Tell me, who sent you? With Brother Hus personality, how could he possibly take the initiative to join Yanjiang Rudder! The specter was terrified and kept denying anyone sent him. Qin Yuanhao increased the strength in his hand, causing the specter to nearly faint before finally telling the truth. A few days ago, several reckless cultivators entered Song Mountain and identally discovered my masters whereabouts. My master killed them and found, while going through their belongings, that they belonged to a notable sect with Golden Core stage elders. My master was worried about Golden Core cultivatorsing after him and got scared. Remembering your invitation, Senior Qin, he convinced thedy master and decided to join Yanjiang Rudder, sending me to invite you to discuss the details. Getting the answer he wanted, Qin Yuanhao casually threw the specter aside: Thats more like it. No longer suspecting the specter, Qin Yuanhao followed him to Song Mountain. Senior Qin, my master is waiting for you just ahead, the specter said respectfully. My master prefers not to have eavesdroppers. Please, go ahead. Qin Yuanhao ignored the specter and walked on alone. The forest was dense and quiet, seemingly untouched for a long time. The distant chirping of birds added a serene feel to the woods. A four-meter-long tiger demon was seated ahead, with two cups of tea on a stone table, ready to entertain guests. Qin Yuanhao unconsciously let down his guard, quickening his pace. Suddenly, his cultivation technique automatically activated, forming a thin membrane around him, blocking an unseen attack and leaving only a shallow cut on his neck. Ambush! With his vast experience, Qin Yuanhao quickly retreated, noticing a nearly invisible thin line at neck height stretched across the air. This noodle is quite useful, almost took his head off. A voice gleefully spoke from a tree to Qin Yuanhaos right, belonging to Meng Jingzhou. What Qin Yuanhao saw wasnt a thin line but a dragon beard noodle that Lu Yang had bought from the cafeteria. As described by the brother who sold the noodles, this type of noodle kills invisibly, ideal for ambushes. If not for Qin Yuanhaos unique cultivation technique, which automatically defended him, his head would have been severed. You dare to ambush me! Qin Yuanhao red at the tiger demon, realizing this was not a meeting to discuss joining Yanjiang Rudder, but a trap from the start! But the tiger demon had already vanished. Qin Yuanhao felt the ground beneath him soften, and a sword aimed at his groin struck. Luckily, Qin Yuanhao reacted swiftly, colliding his knee with the sword, diverting it and protecting himself. Realizing the situation was dire, he turned to flee. Unprepared and against a well-prepared opponent, how could he fight? It must be fellow demons! Qin Yuanhao was certain, that the sword strike was too malicious for the righteous path. Barbarian Bone had been waiting behind for a long time, swinging a tree to smash Qin Yuanhao, sending him flying far away. Hmm, why didnt that feel right? Barbarian Bone was puzzled, feeling as if he had hit paper, even though he had clearly struck the opponent. Qin Yuanhao flew a great distance but remained unharmed and imposing. Be careful, his cultivation technique is very strange! Barbarian Bone loudly warned. If you wish to defeat me, train for another 100 years! (TL Note: hehe Technode reference. The correct trantion is more like You little ones think you can deal with me? Youre a hundred years too early!) Qin Yuanhaoughed, confident no one could catch him if they didnt understand the true function of his technique. Lu Yang calmly leaped into the air, using his identity jade token towards Qin Yuanhao andmanded: Capture! Qin Yuanhao was stunned, not understanding what happened. The jade token looked like an unusual storage ring, but storage rings couldnt capture him. Qin Yuanhao noticed the strange looks from Lu Yang and the others. He slowly looked down to find himself naked, his clothes gone without a trace. Qin Yuanhaos clothes were stored in the jade token, leaving him shivering in his underwear in mid-air. Damn, the weird ones are you guys! (End of the chapter) Chapter 64: The Shadow Chapter 64: The Shadow Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Out of decency, Lu Yang didnt take all of Qin Yuanhaos clothes, leaving him a pair of underwear to cover his modesty. The storage ring, a widely popr magical treasure among cultivators. The Land of Gold Commerce had conducted several polls on the Most Popr Magical Treasures, with the storage ring consistently ranking first. Essential for travel, concealing treasures, and personal savings, its a must-have for every household. Moreover, the storage ring is affordable even for Qi Cultivation stage cultivators, though the space is much smaller. Every year, many Qi Cultivators purchase storage rings, making it a significant revenue source forLand of Gold Commerce, which also releases improved versions annuallymainly aesthetic upgrades without changes to the internal space. For most, the storage ring is the first magical treasure they use, holding sentimental value. Both righteous and demonic paths use storage rings, including Qin Yuanhao. This was Qin Yuanhaos impression of storage rings. He had lived for decades and had never heard of someone using a storage ring to store an enemys clothes! Is that even reasonable? Actually, it is. Storage rings cannot contain items with their own spirit, such as living beings, ghosts, spiritual treasures, etc., and obviously, Qin Yuanhaos clothes dont fall into these categories. Fortunately, as a person of the demonic path, Qin Yuanhaos sense of shame had long been discarded. Even in underwear, he could still fight! Then he saw Meng Jingzhou take out a recording sphere. Damn, which sect are you from, and what deep grudge do you have against me! Qin Yuanhao was convinced Lu Yang and hispanions belonged to another sect. Even if Lu Yang and his team imed to be from the righteous path, Qin Yuanhao wouldnt believe them. He couldnt understand why, although he had made enemies, he always maintained a measure in his actions and never made mortal enemies. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone also gave Lu Yang strange looks, seemingly surprised by his unique method of attack. Theres no need to talk about morals when dealing with the demonic path, lets go together! Lu Yang called out to hispanions. Together, they attacked, and even a Half-step Golden Core tiger demon would perish, let alone Qin Yuanhao at thete Foundation Building stage. They had even considered facing Qin Yuanhao one-on-one. As geniuses, they were confident in their ability to fight above their level. However, for safety, it was better for the three of them to join forces. Casting aside his shame, Qin Yuanhao fought fiercely against the three. The sword light flowed like water, sshing ink with boundless heroism. Qin Yuanhao kept retreating, unable to face the enemy head-on! Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bones punches fell like mountains, striking Qin Yuanhaos chest, causing him to cough up blood continuously! Qin Yuanhao flipped his palm, revealing three poisoned cow hair needles, aiming for their chests. Unexpectedly, the three acted as if unaffected, their swords and fists not weakening but growing stronger in battle. Lu Yang had anticipated the use of poison and had taken an antidote pill in advance. Strictly speaking, the antidote pill should not be called as such but rather a poison removal pill. The principle of the antidote pill is to encapste the poison before it takes effect and expel it with sweat. Since the poison never activates, whats there to detoxify? Qin Yuanhao realized the situation was bad; the opponents were too well-prepared. His treacherous methods couldnt match theirs, and even when they did, they were not as cunning as his opponents. Meng Jingzhous muscles bulged, veins popped, and Qin Yuanhao saw the punch grow from small torge, too fast to react. The bizarre urrence happened once again. Meng Jingzhous punch was powerful and heavy, which would severely injure or even kill ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator, yet Qin Yuanhao remained unaffected. Qin Yuanhao let out a strangeugh, convinced that these people couldnt handle him! After the exchange, Lu Yang finally discovered the truth about Qin Yuanhaos cultivation technique. He swung his sword, emitting a bright glow, with sword energy soaring like a rainbow, unstoppable. The target of this sh wasnt just anywhere, but directly at Qin Yuanhaos shadow! Damn! Qin Yuanhao cried out in pain, unable to hold back. Indeed, it was you who killed the gang of thievesst night. Your weakness is your shadow! Lu Yang remembered Qin Yuanhao leaving the brothel, receiving orders from the helmsman to act, presumably to kill the gang of thieves. With his biggest reliance exposed, Qin Yuanhao no longer wished to fight. His body disappeared, and his shadow moved rapidly across the ground. Even if he couldnt defeat his opponents, he was fully confident in his ability to escape. Your swords may be sharp, but can you kill a shadow? You three youngsters, Ill remember you. Just wait for my endless revenge, hahaha Qin Yuanhao felt he had the upper hand andughed uncontrobly. Suddenly, a beam of white light shone on the shadow, immediately causing Qin Yuanhao to scream in agony, as if a piece of flesh was being torn off him. The Gathering Light Formation, a simple formation that absorbs and emits light sources, is easy to learn but considered quite trivial. However, used here, its effect was surprisingly good. Forced into action, Qin Yuanhao emerged from his shadow to block the white light, and the gap in his shadow vanished. His injuries healed. It seems you came prepared. So what? Do you really think a mere Gathering Light Formation can hurt me? Qin Yuanhao mocked: Dont you know the stronger the light, the stronger the shadow? Lu Yang, unruffled,unched more Gathering Light Formations, simrly mocking: Ever heard of a shadowlessmp? Qin Yuanhao hesitated, unfamiliar with the term shadowlessmp, but Lu Yangs words gave him a bad feeling. Lu Yang didnt bother exining the concept duringbat. Dozens of white lights struck Qin Yuanhao, his shadow fizzing, unable to stop the process whether his body was exposed to block the light or hidden within the shadow. The shadow faded until it was nearly invisible to the naked eye. The principle of the shadowlessmp isnt to erase the shadow but to make it so faint its almost non-existent. Qin Yuanhao roared, emerging from the nearly invisible shadow, unable to hide within it any longer. A sword light descended from the sky, like a rainbow shooting through, sudden and unavoidable, piercing Qin Yuanhaos body. This was the moment Lu Yang had been waiting for. That was close, nearly let him escape. Meng Jingzhou breathed a sigh of relief seeing Qin Yuanhao dead. If he had escaped, all their preparations would have been in vain. Meng Jingzhou thought they had prepared enough to ensure Qin Yuanhao couldnt escape, but his technique rted to shadows made it exceedingly difficult to trap him. Meng Jingzhou yfully nudged Lu Yangs shoulder: Good thing you suggested making the Gathering Light Formation before we left. It was all luck. I just suspected his technique was rted to shadows, without concrete evidence. But lets not celebrate too soon. We can celebrate after weve destroyed the body and evidence. Following Lu Yangs suggestion, they burned Qin Yuanhaos body beyond recognition, dumping it into the tiger demons cave, and then copsed the cave entrance. This way, unless someone deliberately searched the mountain, no one would find it. (End of the chapter) Chapter 65: The Examiner Chapter 65: The Examiner Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang, holding Qin Yuanhaos storage ring, tried several times to open it but eventually shook his head in disappointment. Its a pity. This storage ring can only be opened by Qin Yuanhao himself. Theres no use for us having it; forcing it open would only cause the internal space to copse, making it impossible to find again. Lets check his house; maybe well find something. Lu Yang beckoned the others to leave. The ghost that lured Qin Yuanhao followed behind. Barbarian Bone thought the ghost did a good job and decided to reward it with two skewers ofmb theoretically, if the skewers are burnt, the ghost could taste them. Whether the ghost gets well-cooked skewers or burnt ones will have to be proven through practice. Qin Yuanhaos house was sparsely decorated, feeling empty and lifeless for a single upant. The trio entered the training room, which, besides a jade statue of indeterminate gender in robes, contained only two rows of bookshelves filled with cultivation techniques and secrets. This must be the Evesting Being worshiped by the Evesting Sect, Meng Jingzhou mused, circling the statue. The material of this statue was much stronger than that of ordinary statues, but its likeness was far inferior. Doesnt everyone expect their statues to be lifelike? Water Avoidance Technique,Introduction to Formation,Sword Moves Deciphered These are quitemon techniques found even on the first floor of our scripture pavilion. Lu Yangs hand brushed over the spines, enjoying the sensation over the uneven surfaces. Common Methods to Please Your Boss,Understanding People,Machiavellian Maneuvers, what kind of nonsense is this? Lu Yang picked up Common Methods to Please Your Boss, its corners worn from frequent use, indicating Qin Yuanhaos thorough reading. Method 1: Be a family member of your boss. Depending on your age and capabilities, you can target the boss or their children. Qin Yuanhaos note: The helm leader never removes their mask, unknown identity and gender, cannot approach, cannot marry. Method 2: Present a treasure. Ostentatious gifts make the giver appear boastful, which is unlikable. Its rmended to give subtle yet expensive gifts to your boss. Qins note: Loaned to buy a jade chair for the helm leader, hoping it works. Method 3: Cultivate interests. Pay attention to your bosss hobbies and develop simr interests. Qins note: The helm leader likes fishing. I went fishing with them by the river. I caught more fish than the helm leader, hoping they wont be jealous of my talent. Method 4 Method 5 Qin Yuanhao was very diligent in trying to please the helm leader, albeit with little sess. It seems its tough inside the demonic sect as well, Lu Yang remarked with a chuckle. Thanks to Qin Yuanhaos notes, Lu Yang gained a basic understanding of the helm leader and the various stewards. From bottom to top, the hierarchy within the Yanjiang Rudder is ordinary cult members, stewards, and the helm leader. Ordinary cult members are numerous, ranging from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Building stages, and its difficult for them to ess the secrets of the Evesting Sect. Only by passing an assessment can one at the Foundation Building stage be a steward. There are twelve stewards in total in the Yanjiang Rudder. Now that Qin Yuanhao is dead, there are only eleven left. The helm leaders identity is unknown, with Golden Core stage cultivation, but the exact level is unclear. They like fishing. Besides, the trio found some scattered spirit stones and a few spells that didnt seem suited for the righteous path, such as hypnotism and bedroom arts, hardly worth mentioning. Lets go. Its time to prepare for the demonic sects test in nine days. At the boundary of Yanjiang County, numerous taciturn cultivators moved through the deep forest, the patchy sunlight casting eerie shadows on their expressionless faces. Every cultivator kept a considerable distance from one another, vigntly watching their surroundings, ready to strike at the first sign of vulnerability in others, aiming to eliminatepetition. They were all rogue cultivators from the demonic path who had learned of the trial location through various channels and rushed to the Yanjiang Rudder in advance. Under the crackdown by the righteous path, their living space was continuously shrinking. To gain more resources, they had to join arge organization, with Yanjiang Rudder being their primary target. Previously, joining the demonic sect required a stewards rmendation and, consequently, bribing a steward. This time was different; everyone had a chance, making it a once-in-thirty-years opportunity to join the demonic sect. An hour before the trials start, a fair number of rogue cultivators had arrived. Look, isnt that Chi Xu Long, who ughtered an entire household overnight, not sparing even a mouse, and then left under everyones watchful eyes? A brawny man, holding an unidentified beasts leg bone like a savage, had bronze skin, bulging muscles, and arms covered in scars. He grinned, revealing teeth like a wolfs. Chi Xu Long had a high reputation among rogue cultivators for his brazen and domineering deeds. Having survived numerous battles and even leveling up during fights, he was known for his invincibility and resilience. Chi Xu Long, I didnt expect you to be here. A schrly-looking man with a fan teased Chi Xu Long. Chi Xu Long snorted, Heh, Shen Jin Yi, a mere schr who doesnt teach in schools butes here instead. Theres no one here who needs your teaching! What, hes Shen Jin Yi, who specifically teaches how to kill in his school?! Someone heard Chi Xu Long addressing the schrly man as Shen Jin Yi and gasped, stepping back. Indeed, Shen Jin Yi was a teacher, but he didnt teach Confucian ssics. Instead, he taught efficient and secretive methods of assassination. He had trained countless assassins, bing a feared figure among rogue cultivators. Despite Shen Jin Yis smiling and seemingly frail appearance, angering him meant not knowing how one might die. Assassins? Just a bunch of cowards afraid to show their faces. A swordsman carrying a broad de sneered, not taking assassin Shen Jin Yi seriously. Shen Jin Yi was about to retort but swallowed his words upon recognizing the swordsman, muttering through clenched teeth, Yi Zhang Hong! What are you calling your grandpa for? (TL Note: Hes basically saying that hes the assassins grandfather which is an insult) Yi Zhang Hong, unfazed by Shen Jin Yis murderous gaze, spat contemptuously. Rogue cultivators widened their eyes; present were notable figures from the underworld: Yi Zhang Hong, known for drawing blood within a meters reach and reputed to be unbeatable in closebat, even half-step Golden Core experts hesitated to confront him. Besides these three, numerous notorious viins with bounties on their heads had arrived. No one dared to mess with them for fear of being killed in retaliation. These viins gathered, leaving others, who felt insufficient in cultivation, to stand far away, too scared even to speak up loudly. Suddenly, the appearance of three individuals caught everyones attention: a swordsman in the center, a schr to his left, and a man with a radiant smile on his right, looking almost insane. The trios silent, forward gaze disregarded the rogue cultivators, exuding an incredibly powerful aura. Who are they? Do you know them? I dont know, but they seem significant. The trio moved straight through the crowd to the forefront, muttering something about the Immortal of Immortality before seemingly retrieving furniture from the other side of the stone wall, though they were actually taking it out of a jade pendant. Chi Xu Long and others pondered, They can open the stone wall, so they must be from the demonic sect. After settling down, the swordsman coughed twice to draw everyones attention. I am Lu Yang, and these are Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone. We are the examiners for this selection. The Evesting Sect disciple selection starts now. Line up and report your personal information. (End of the chapter) Chapter 66: Those Who Aren't Quick-Witted Shouldn't Join the Demonic Sect Chapter 66: Those Who Arent Quick-Witted Shouldnt Join the Demonic Sect Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii When the examiners gave the order, it didnt matter if you were Chi Xu Long or anyone else; you had to stand in line obediently. Angering the examiners could jeopardize your chance of joining the demonic sect. Despite their notorious reputations outside, could any of them im to be stronger than the demonic sect itself? The sect boasted mysterious and powerful leaders, as well as formidable members, whereas they were alone, with the highest among them only reaching thete stage of Foundation Establishment. The three examiners were unfamiliar faces to everyone present, which made sense since the demonic sect was even more secretive than rogue cultivators and rarely made public appearances. Despite the trial starting an hour earlier than announced, no one questioned it. This was likely one of the sects tests: showing up early demonstrated dedication to the sect, and those who arrived just in time didnt deserve to join. Lu Yang, leisurely sitting with his legs crossed, took out a pen and paper, directing his questions to the first person in line: Tell us, why do you choose to join the demonic sect, what can you bring to us, what are your ns for yourself, and what are your sry expectations? The first person was taken aback by the barrage of questions, not expecting this to be the test for joining the sect. They were expecting questions about their cultivation level, techniques, or misdeeds they hadmitted. Seeing the first person unable to respond, Lu Yang, impatiently gesturing with his hand,mented, Whats with the hesitation? If you falter at our questions, what will happen if youre caught by the authorities? Will you spill all the sects secrets? Youre eliminated, go back. The second person, a former gang leader who had experienced prison multiple times and fought to reim his gang and wife from his subordinates after he was betrayed, introduced himself with significant life experience. My name is Niu Mang, leader of the Green Dragon Gang. I chose to join our demonic sect seeking better prospects. I find the philosophies of the demonic path and our sect to have much inmon. I believe joining the sect will lead to harmonious cooperation. Ill dedicate myself to wrongdoing and work with the sect to achieve greater glory! My n is to do whatever the sect needs, withoutints. After all, my strength grows with the sects power! As the sect has provided me with a foundation, I wouldnt dare ask for a sry. It should be me who pays tribute to the sect! Niu Mangs passionate response, including waving his fists, showed his determination to ovee challenges and embrace a bright future. It was a speech he was used to giving within his gang. Youre eliminated, go back. Why? Niu Mang protested, believing his answer was perfect. Lu Yang sternly rebuked him, highlighting Niu Mangs misunderstanding of the demonic path: What is the demonic path? Its about selfishness and self-interest. How can someone so dedicated to serving the sect without expecting anything in return be a true practitioner of the demonic path? As a member of the demonic sect, you should be plotting to seize power and instigate internal strife. As you said, you would do whatever the sect needs you to do. The sect needs you to leave, so get out! Niu Mang left with his head hung low in dejection. Those behind him, having heard the exchange, felt as if their eyes had been opened. So this was the philosophy of the demonic sect. Indeed, these were the examiners, their understanding of the demonic path was profoundly deep. Next, called out Meng Jingzhou. Im Chi Xu Long, with a Foundation Establishment cultivation, Chi Xu Long emphasized his cultivation level, hoping to gain the examiners attention. Tell us, what evil deeds have youmitted? When Chi Xu Long got his turn, he had plenty to say: Since I was a child, I was taken away and raised by wolves on the mountain. At the age of ten, I killed the wolf that took me with a bone knife and descended the mountain to live. In the mountains, whatever I wanted, I would simply take by force. This habit followed me to the city; whatever Icked, I would rob. Consequently, the constables chased after me. I kept robbing as they chased. My speed is unmatched; no one can catch up to me. During robberies, I even took hostages and killed a few who stood in my way. Chi Xu Long spoke with pride, believing that someone with his extensive record of misdeeds certainly qualified for the demonic sect. Meng Jingzhou shook his head: With the righteous path holding sway nowadays, we of the demonic path must act discreetly. Your style is too ostentatious and will lead to your downfall. Look at yourself, how many people recognize you, and then look at us three. Who knows us? Thats the difference! Its not about skulking in the shadows but about strategically lying in wait. Its the wisdom of hiding in in sight! Barbarian Bone curiously looked at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, wondering why they seemed so familiar with the ways of the demonic path. Taking the advice to heart, Chi Xu Long believed he had oversimplified the demonic path and voluntarily left. I am Shen Jin Yi, the white-faced schr introduced himself with a smile, thinking he had figured out the examiners approach after the previous exchanges. Barbarian Bone, noticing the others schrly attire and recognizing a fellow Confucian cultivator, eagerly posed a question that had long puzzled him, one not even the four elders could answer: Since niang and ma both mean mother, can I then refer to gu niang (youngdy) as gu ma (aunt)? (TL Note: I dont even know how to trante this one. The Chinese words are different from english.) Shen Jin Yi was taken aback, unsure how to respond despite his forty years of life experience. He had thought the seemingly simple examiner on his left would be easy to deal with, but was unexpectedly struck by a profound question. Shen Jin Yi didnt outright say he didnt know but instead stated, I am an assassin, not a schr. An assassin? Have you studied criminalw? Lu Yang asked with interest. I have studied it somewhat, Shen Jin Yi modestly imed, though in reality, he was well-versed in criminalw, essential knowledge for an assassin to evade legal consequences. So, let me ask you, the criminalw defines the crime of intentional homicide as intentionally depriving someone of life constitutes this crime.'' Does suicide constitute intentional homicide? Shen Jin Yi faced another unexpected question. Seeing Shen Jin Yi unable to answer, Lu Yang waved him off in disappointment: You cant even answer questions about your area of expertise, go back. Shen Jin Yi faced the biggest setback of his life within just five minutes. Are these the questions that a normal person would ask? Could it be that only those with unconventional thinking can join the demonic sect? This selection test for joining the sect was of great importance, so the sect leader wanted to preside over it personally to be at ease. The sect leader specifically arrived half an hour early to prepare. On the way to the examination site, the sect leader saw many fierce and evil-looking people leaving one after another, murmuring things like The interview is really tough, Its hard to join the demonic sect, So this is the true essence of the demonic path, Ille back in thirty years, as if they had undergone an enlightenment and achieved a great realization. The sect leader fell into deep thought. He hadnt arrived yet, so who was overseeing the test? Then, he saw Lu Yang and his twopanions, who were stirring up the scene and making significant decisions. (End of the chapter) Authors Note: Thoughts on Going Live (TL Note: This was written by the author. I dont count this as a real chapter so I will be releasing another chapterter) Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Before writing this book, I thought of myself as a fairly serious person, with thoughts and ideas not much different from others,cking any distinctive features. However, as I began writing this book, more and more bizarre ideas started popping into my mind, like techniques for sensing energy and other oddities, which couldnt be suppressed. Perhaps this is what makes me unique? With the thought of not wasting my uniqueness, this book came into being, starting with discussions about cheating in front of examiners, climbing Heart Seeking Mountain, Shrinking the Earth into Inches, and the Strength of Ten Bulls Pill It brings joy to readers, and Im happy writing ita win-win situation. Some say Lu Yangs maneuvers arent bold enough. To this, Id like to say that Lu Yang is still weak; he has the mind for bold maneuvers but not the courage. Too bold a move would indeed get him hung up and beaten by the eldest senior sister. This book is about to go live; please, fellow Daoists, support it with your initial subscriptions. It really means a lot to me. (End of the chapter) Chapter 67: All for the Sake of the Demonic Sect Chapter 67: All for the Sake of the Demonic Sect Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii As the helm leader with the highest cultivation in the entire helm and someone who had undergone systematic training at headquarters, learning the true essence of the demonic path, what scene had he not witnessed? Yet, this was a scene he had never encountered before. He could understand if the stewards were considerate of his hardships and made preparations in advance; he might even feel relieved. But whats the deal with you three? Where did you spring out from? The helm leader figured out the issue, his gaze chilling enough to kill. These three were impersonating examiners, weeding outpetitors in advance. What a clever tactic! the helm leader said through gritted teeth. The three continued to impersonate examiners, with Lu Yang propping his legs up on the table: You think you can pass the assessment without bribing us? Next? The next person respectfully presented spirit stones as a tribute to the three examiners. Meng Jingzhou found it insufficient and asked, Do you have any experience in joining the demonic sect? No. Oh, sorry, we dont take people without experience. Go back. It felt to him as though the examiners might as well have written Were not recruiting on their faces. The helm leader appeared behind the three like a ghost, his breath frosty with the unmistakable aura of a Golden Core stage cultivator, pping them against the wall: You three have some nerve, impersonating examiners here! If he had arrived anyter, everyone would have run off! Lu Yang peeled himself off the wall and quickly said, Your Honor, its a misunderstanding, we truly have the demonic sects best interests at heart! The helm leader was so angered heughed, asking, Oh really? Then tell me, how exactly are you considering the demonic sects best interests? Consider this, Your Honor. As cultivators of the demonic path, we should be suspicious and questioning, not easily trusting others. Yet, look at these people. The moment we sat here, they believed we were the examiners without a single doubt. Being so easily fooled, wouldnt they be easily deceived by others? If the righteous path had some clever individuals, they could deceive them one by one. Moreover, only righteous path cultivators would believe whatever theyre told. I even suspect there are righteous path spies among these people. Your Honor, you must thoroughly investigate their identities to prevent righteous path cultivators from infiltrating! As he said this, Lu Yang looked suspiciously at the people taking the test, as if convinced there were spies among them. Lu Yangs earnestness seemed entirely for the sake of the helm leader. The helm leaders expression softened slightly. Meng Jingzhou was even more sincere than Lu Yang, his words clearly heartfelt: Moreover, as selfish and self-interested cultivators of the demonic path, we naturally had to find ways to reduce ourpetition with so many people attending the test! If theyre fooled and outmaneuvered, who can they me? Only theirck of experience in deceiving others! The helm leaders frown rxed, sensing the honesty in their words. Indeed, cultivators of the demonic path arewless and extreme. When he joined the demonic sect, he also used every trick in the book to gain the favor of the higher-ups, securing his position today. These three had even outdone his past self, exceeding the teacher. Barbarian Bones statement was the most straightforward: We genuinely want to join the demonic sect and promise not to do a single good deed! The helm leader nodded slightly, thinking perhaps these three could also gain the favor of the higher-ups, elevating the reputation of the Yanjiang Rudder. The crowd red at Lu Yang and hispanions. They were known troublemakers, scoundrels, and liars in the world of cultivation, but none as shameless as these three, who deceived so tantly! Had the helm leader not been there, they would have wanted to rush up and tear these three to pieces! The helm leader didnt care about the thoughts of those below him; a bunch of mediocrities couldntpare to the value of these three. What are your cultivation levels? Lu Yang respectfully answered, All of us are in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. The three of us brothers came from afar to Yanjiang County a month ago. Hearing by chance that the demonic sect was recruiting, we decided to give it a try. Seeing too manypetitors, we came up with this strategy. Well done. The more the helm leader looked at them, the more satisfied he became. They were promising talents, all contributing to his own achievements. With a casual wave of his hand earlier, any ordinary cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment would have been injured, yet these three were unharmed, indicating their exceptional strength even among their peers. If these three performed well in the tests, promoting them to stewards was not out of the question. Those eliminated by Lu Yang gradually returned, called back by the helm leader. These eliminated individuals harbored even more resentment towards Lu Yang. Lu Yang thought that killing them now would probably turn them directly into vengeful spirits. The helm leader opened the stone wall again, telling everyone, Come on in. Behind the stone wall was a vast and dim space, with giant stones suspended and connected by chains, a rather magnificent sight. Lu Yang guessed correctly; the Yanjiang Rudder was located in a cave heaven. The helm leaders attitude towards the three was clearly different from the others: Your thinking was good, trying to eliminatepetitors, and what you did was noteworthy. But you were wrong from the start. Eliminating these people, or even if only you three participated in the test, doesnt guarantee youll pass. What do you mean? The three of them were puzzled. The helm leader, smiling under his mask, stepped on a floating stone and led everyone to thergest one. This was a tform, withplicated and exquisite patterns etched on the ground and four ancient stone pirs standing in the four cardinal directions. Eleven stewards in ck robes each took their positions at the edge of the tform. Spread out and sit down, rx your minds. After everyone did as instructed, the helm leader moved to the center of the tform, where a green stone suspended in mid-air was engraved with dense mysterious symbols. The helm leader channeled spiritual energy into the stone, activating the array beneath his feet, which began to rotate, expand, and multiply, quickly covering the entire tform. The tform, like an ancient beast awakening, used the mysterious power from the ancient times to transport everyone to an unknown space. In the white space, figures stood shadowy and confused, not understanding what had happened. Seeing the white space, Lu Yang always wondered if a Tofu Celestial Master might suddenly emerge from the crowd. Lu Yang realized Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were not beside him, surrounded instead by strangers. Brother, where are you from? Lu Yang asked quite familiarly, but the man wasnt very receptive to his warmth. Feeling it rude not to respond, the man said, From Huangyue City. Lu Yang asked several people and found they came from different demonic sect strongholds, all transported here through a giant formation. Lu Yang roughly understood the helm leaders intention. This selection wasnt conducted by each stronghold independently but was organized by the headquarters, with all demonic path rogue cultivators participating simultaneously. This feels like astral projection, but different, Lu Yang muttered to himself, feeling that what was transported was not their physical bodies but something like their consciousness. How interesting. I wonder if the eldest senior sister could Lu Yang stopped his thoughts. If they were in a state of consciousness, perhaps the Dao Seeking had ways to detect what he was thinking. Better to be cautious. Suddenly, the entire space dimmed, and a figure emitting a white glow appeared in the air. The figure spoke indifferently, I am the vice leader of the Evesting Sect. I have set up three challenges for you all. Those who pass all three may join our sect. (End of the chapter) Chapter 68: The Correct Way to Pass the Test Chapter 68: The Correct Way to Pass the Test Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The crowd was stirred, not expecting the Evesting Sect to ce such high importance on this recruitment, with even the vice sect leader making an appearance. The vice sect leaders of the four major demonic sects are significant figures throughout the Central Continent, and seeing one in person is usually a luxury. Lu Yang, however, felt indifferent. It was no different from meeting an elder of the Dao Seeking Sect; it wasnt his first time. Your current state is one of mere thought, with your physical bodies remaining in ce. After the official test begins, all your cultivation levels and memories will be erased, cing everyone at the same starting point. The sect leader ced great emphasis on this test. In the grand scheme of conflicts, whats most important is talent! If they possess singr spiritual roots, natural immortal physiques, or demonic seeds from birth, then they would have the capital to contend with the righteous path! For this reason, he had the vice sect leader meticulously design three tests to ensure the selection of true talents. To prevent cheating, the sects secret methods were used to erase participants cultivation levels and memories, allowing for a true reflection of their abilities. The first test officially begins. The standard for passing is defeating the Liang Kingdoms army. After the vice sect leader said this, everyone felt dizzy and disoriented, unable to distinguish directions. When they came to their senses, they remembered nothing. Where is this? Barbarian Bone regained consciousness, still feeling dizzy. He was disheveled, holding a broken sword, with his armor covered in blood. Barbarian Bone stumbled a few steps and almost fell, but his personal guard quickly supported him: General, please get on the horse. Now is not the time for integrity. The Liang Kingdoms army is about to catch up! During the escape on horseback, memories rted to the test gradually flooded into Barbarian Bones mind. There are two countries here, Liang and Jin, eternal enemies, each wishing to defeat the other. Jin is not as strong as Liang, and I am now a general of Jin,manding the entire Jin army. I was careless and fell into the enemys trap. I need to regroup ande back stronger to defeat Liang! Barbarian Bone forgot this was a test and only remembered that he was Jins undefeated general, determined to defeat Liang and protect his country. In addition to background memories,bat experience also filled his mind, making him truly Jins undefeated general. Unfortunately, despite Barbarian Bones rich experience, the generals of Liang were equally experienced, and he suffered defeat after defeat. Barbarian Bone was highly esteemed in the army, with his soldiers cing great trust in him. They believed setbacks were temporary, and General Barbarian Bone would surely lead them to victory. Barbarian Bone suffered another defeat. Honest by nature and experienced inbat, he couldnt apply his knowledge effectively, always falling into the traps set by Liangs generals. Puffing and panting, Barbarian Bone disgracefully fled to a cave. This defeat was utterly humiliating, the greatest shame of his life. Outside, the bleak wind and bitter rain mirrored his increasingly deste mood. Thinking of his soldiers trust and the impact of repeated failures, he looked at his notched sword, wishing he could end his own life! To die would be to escape all failure, all responsibilities towards Jin; it would all no longer concern him. Suddenly, a spider caught his attention. The spider looked strange, unlike any Barbarian Bone had seen before. The spider was weaving its web, with the wind and rain from outside repeatedly destroying it. Each time the web was destroyed, the spider would start over, undiscouraged. Watching the spider fail and try again and again, Barbarian Bone saw a reflection of himself. You will seed! Barbarian Bone fixed his gaze on the spider, hope gradually rising in his eyes. If the spider could persist, then as a human, could his willpower be any less? Finally, after countless failures, the spider seeded in building its web. Barbarian Bone sprang to his feet, his fighting spirit ignited. If the spider could seed, so could he! A fierce fire zed within Barbarian Bones heart. He was determined to regroup and counterattack Liang! Hm? Barbarian Bone nced at the spider, intending to thank it for the encouragement, but unexpectedly, a praying mantis suddenly appeared and killed the spider. Initially, Barbarian Bone wanted to angrily crush the mantis, but then he realized the spiders situation was much like his own. After seeding, it becamecent, forgetting the dangers lurking in the shadows. He pondered, Indeed, perseverance is crucial, but strategy is equally important. Attacking the enemy when theyre off guard can have an unexpected effect! Eventually, Barbarian Bone used small victories to lull Liang intocency, thenunched a surprise attack with his hidden troops, breaking through the main force of Liangs army and achieving aplete victory. Barbarian Bone passed the test. At the Evesting Sects headquarters, the calm surface of the water reflected everyones performance in the first test, with the vice sect leader observing and evaluating. How is it? Any promising candidates? The space twisted as the sect leader appeared. Your first test is not easy. Facing continuous failures, one must learn perseverance from the spider and the element of surprise from the mantis. The vice sect leader shook his head, Its necessary. The righteous path is suppressing us, and the demonic sect has faced consecutive failures. Some within the sect are considering retreat. Our experience with Jin is so simr. Through this test, I want to select followers with firm willpower, nurture them into talents, and oppose the righteous path! Opposing the righteous path requires more than willpower; it also requires skill. Learning tactics from both the spider and the mantis, how else can victory be achieved? The sect leader nodded, Well said, thats exactly why I had you organize this selection. The outstanding followers selected this time must be given priority in training; they are our reserve force against the righteous path! The vice sect leader pointed to a scene, I have high hopes for this one named Barbarian Bone. His method of passing perfectly aligns with my intentions. This person will surely achieve greatness! The sect leader took a nce at Barbarian Bone and found him quite agreeable, Then lets see how the others performed. Standing together, the sect leader and the vice sect leader continued to watch. Suddenly, the sect leader asked, Do you think theres another way to pass? The vice sect leader firmly denied, Absolutely not! This first test is a segment of history I extracted, from a corner of the world in chaos ten thousand years ago. Back then, cultivators were far fewer than now, and Liang and Jin had even fewer. I based this test on those events to ensure its authenticity as much as possible. The Evesting Sect invested significant resources to extract this historical segment, much to the vice sect leaders distress. The general of Jin historically achieved enlightenment in a cave and defeated Liangs army! That was already a miracle. I refuse to believe theres another way! The sect leader nodded; he thought the same. His question was just to avoid an awkward silence and make conversation. Then, they saw Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yangs methods of passing the test. (End of the chapter) Chapter 69: The Incorrect Way to Pass the Test Chapter 69: The Incorrect Way to Pass the Test Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The Jin army had faced too many defeats, causing even someone like Meng Jingzhou to lose hope, feeling that victory was impossible. Can I really win? Meng Jingzhou asked himself in the cave, finding the answer bitterly hard to articte. Hmm, a spider? Meng Jingzhou noticed a spider weaving its web. The spiders repeated failures and attempts greatly shocked him. The spider keeps trying despite its failures. Am I not even as good as a spider? Meng Jingzhou was greatly inspired, readying himself to battle the Liang army once more. The Liang army is stronger than ours, but the gap is not insurmountable. And how could we give up after just a few failures? If I give up, what will be of Jin behind me? Believe that as long as the strategy is right, victory is possible! Meng Jingzhou clenched his fist, a n already forming in his mind. After several failures, he had be familiar with the tactics of Liangs generals. Their repeated victories would have surely made them overconfident. He nned to feign defeat and flee in disarray, luring the Liang army into a gorge before surrounding and attacking them. This time, we will catch them by surprise and not let down the people of Jin! Thank you for the lesson. Meng Jingzhou bowed his fist in thanks to the spider. Without its inspiration, he would have been disheartened, truly losing all hope of victory. There were many mosquitoes in the cave. To show his gratitude, Meng Jingzhou caught a bug and ced it near the spider. The spider, failing to understand Meng Jingzhous intention, mistook him for an enemy and bit him. Its a venomous spider Meng Jingzhou felt dizzy and passed out. He wasnt sure how much time had passed, maybe a few minutes or perhaps slightly longer, but when Meng Jingzhou woke up, he felt invigorated. Whats happened to me? Meng Jingzhou felt his body had undergone a transformation; his vision, hearing, and perception had all improved, and his agility was unprecedented, as if reborn. His right hand moved instinctively, his middle and ring fingers bending, and white silk shot out from his wrist. !!! What is this? The white silk stuck to the wall, and Meng Jingzhou, pulling on it, found it exceptionally tough. Its like spider silk? Meng Jingzhou ced his hands on the wall and was astonished to find he could cling to it effortlessly, making wall-walking a breeze. I remember being bitten by the spider Right, wheres the spider? When Meng Jingzhou looked for the spider, he found it had been killed by a praying mantis. Meng Jingzhou crushed the mantis, avenging the spider. He inherited the spiders will, reorganized his troops, and fought the Liang army once more. On the eve of the decisive battle, dressed in night gear and utilizing his newfound powers, he carried out a solo beheading mission, directly killing the Liang general. The Liang general was taken aback; as generals, shouldnt they face each other on the battlefield for a final showdown? This was a direct leap to the end, a general killing another general? The Liang general had cultivator guards, but they were no match for Meng Jingzhous agility. Meng Jingzhou seeded in killing the Liang general. The Liang general was a rare military genius. With his death, Liangs forces were headless,cking someone to lead effectively. Meng Jingzhou led the Jin army to crush the Liang forces. Meng Jingzhou passed the test. At the headquarters of the Evesting Sect, the sect leader and vice sect leader watched Meng Jingzhous method of passing the test, remaining silent for a long time. A second method of passing the test indeed emerged. The sect leader rubbed his temples, Whats with this spider, giving people its abilities with just a bite? Could it be that if I bite a spider, it will transform? The vice sect leader was also stunned. After pondering for a while, he seemed to have thought of something, pulled out a book from his storage ring, and pointed to a section of the text, Found it, look. Ancient texts mention a unique type of spider in the Central Continent. Its strength was ordinary, never biting humans. However, anyone bitten by it would undergo mutations. This type of spider went extinct tens of thousands of years ago. The vice sect leader analyzed logically, The events of Jin and Liang urred a hundred thousand years ago, and weve perfectly recreated that scenario. So theoretically, its possible for this unique spider to appear in the cave. The sect leader nodded, It seems this Meng Jingzhou not only has perseverance and a clever mind but also good luck. Luck is an elusive concept, perhaps only the legendary Qi Gazing Technique could truly assess how fortunate someone is. However, one could somewhat gauge it from other aspects. For instance, Meng Jingzhou was the only one among many to be bitten by the spider and mutate, indicating his extraordinary fortune. Those with great fortune often have a smooth cultivation path and achieve high aplishments in the future. Lets see how the others did. I dont believe theres a third way to pass. Lu Yang, observing the spider continuously failing and retrying its web, fell into contemtion. If a spider can catch prey by weaving a web, why does waiting for a rabbit toe by fail? Isnt it the same principle of staying put and waiting for prey? Whats the difference? Is it because insectsck brains and blunder into the web, while rabbits are smarter and avoid trees? If its said that insectsck brains, suggesting that spiders alsock brains, then is the spiders persistent attempt to weave its web despite failures a disy of willpower or just foolish persistence? Even rabbits know to avoid trees, so why do some people not turn back even when they hit a wall? Lu Yangs thoughts wandered far. After experiencing failure, he didnt get discouraged but took shelter in a cave to avoid the rain, all the while thinking of ways to defeat the enemy. Now, seeing the spider weave its web, he thought of many seemingly profound but ultimately pointless questions. Suddenly, a mantis appeared, attacking the unsuspecting spider. The spider fought back fiercely with its webs advantage, but the mantis, agile and fierce, killed the spider after a few rounds. Lu Yang witnessed the entire process, thoughtful. He stood up, mimicking the mantiss movements. He learned to use his arms flexibly like the mantis and adopted its nimble, leaping movements in his footwork. Imagine myself as a mantis Lu Yang muttered to himself, feeling as though he had learned something simr before and had a natural talent for it. Lu Yang, like a humanoid mantis,bined hardness with softness, fierce and fast, overpowering any opponent with his martial arts. The historical general of Jin was at the mid-stage of Qi cultivation, and Lu Yang, inheriting the generals cultivation, was also at the mid-stage. Eventually, he transformed his body into a giant mantis, striking with rapid forelimbs, shattering the cave with a punch. Lu Yang eximed, So this is the Mantis Fist talked about in martial arts, so powerful, but ordinary people cant learn it. Lu Yang simplified the Mantis Fist, making it easy to learn, and widely spread it among the military. Thebat power of Jins army exceeded that of Liangs. Without needing any strategy, they steamrolled through. Lu Yang passed the test. Who passes a test like this! the vice sect leader eximed angrily. (End of the chapter) Chapter 70: The Second Test Chapter 70: The Second Test Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Who performs Mantis Fist like this?! The vice sect leader widened his eyes. He had heard of Mantis Fist, a martial art mimicking the movements of a mantis. It was supposed to mimic a mantis, not transform into one! He had repeatedly simted the test to meet the expected standards and even had several of the sects most intellectually agile higher-ups try it, confirming there was no second solution apart from the one he provided. Now, suddenly, two solutions outside of the standard emerged, and he couldnt ept it! The sect leader, however, saw it more openly: Think about it from another angle. He just nced at a mantis and then understood Mantis Fist. The historical general of Jin also had no martial arts talent, which shows that this Lu Yang has an extremely high martial arts talent. In the end, he even reached the profound realm of integrating martial arts into techniques, a talent that is hard toe by! The vice sect leader paused, turned to look at the serious-faced sect leader, and asked, Are you serious? The sect leader thought, of course, Im making this up. In fact, I also didnt understand how he transformed from a human into a mantis, but as a sect leader, I cant appear ignorant in front of my subordinates. The sect leader nodded: Of course, Im serious. After the sect leader put it that way, the vice sect leader felt slightly better. Since it was a rare talent who identally found a way to break through, it was within reason. He could barely ept it. Those who could pass have passed. Lets end the first test here, said the vice sect leader. The surface of the water showed tens of thousands of scenes, recording everyones performance. Only a small number of people learned perseverance from the spider, and an even smaller number learned strategy from the mantis. Most people gave up in the cave, bing deserters, killed by Liang soldiers in the chaos, dying nameless and unknown, with the Liang soldiers unaware of the once majestic air of the people they killed. The second test begins. The test for the second round is to sincerely convince the examiner to keep you. This sentence appeared in everyones mind, forgetting the cause and effect, only remembering they needed to find a way to pass the second test. Yan Wangsun felt dizzy, having no recollection of prior events, only a vague memory of someone overly familiar asking him where he was from, to which he replied he came from Huangyue City. I am Yan Wangsun, currently applying for a position at the Land of Gold Commerce, needing to pass an interview, which requires not sharing the interview questions with others, Yan Wangsun summarized the information he knew. Even if it wasnt required, Yan Wangsun wouldnt share the interview questions with others, as it would be helping others at no benefit to himself. Yan Wangsun found himself sitting in the first seat, next to a man dressed in a Confucian robe. My name is Barbarian Bone, whats yours? Yan Wangsun didnt respond because the examiner was calling his name. Upon entering the room, Yan Wangsun noticed a bundle of papers on the floor, casually throwing it into the trash bin before preparing for the interview. The chubby examiner, struggling with his tight clothes and always smiling, said, Yan Wangsun, right? Could you go to the market and see if anyone is selling potatoes? Yan Wangsun obediently left, toured the market, and found only one vendor selling potatoes. He returned and simply said, Yes. The chubby examiner then asked, How many potatoes are there? Yan Wangsun had no choice but to run out again. Upon returning, he reported, There are eighty pounds of potatoes. What about the price? Yan Wangsun cursed in his heart, Why didnt this fatty say earlier? He ran out for the third time, found out the price, and reported, Three coins per pound. Hows the quality of the potatoes? Does it match the price? Suppressing his anger, as if he were walking a dog, Yan Wangsun went out for the fourth time to check the quality of the potatoes. The quality of the potatoes is average, about three to four coins per pound, so the price is not high. The chubby examiner smiled and said, Youve been eliminated. Why! Yan Wangsun argued, infuriated. He had been sent out by the chubby examiner four times, running there and back each time, working hard all this while, only to be told he failed? This is a mockery! The chubby examiner spread his hands, If you need to run out four times for a small matter like asking about potatoes, how can I trust you with work? Then you should have asked everything all at once! The chubby examiner shook his head, Its your fault for not being thorough. How can you me me for not asking everything? Young man, you need to learn to anticipate your superiors expectations at work. Ptui, you think youre the emperor, expecting people to guess your intentions.'' The chubby examiner wasnt annoyed, Even though you failed, you can stay. Yan Wangsun looked suspiciously at the chubby examiner, worried he was being yed again, Really? Do you remember the ball of paper you picked up when you first entered? I deliberately threw it on the floor, just to see who would pick it up. Yan Wangsun was pleased, thinking perhaps this was a test of his responsibility and observation skills. We just happen to need someone for cleaning, so youll stay and take care of the cleanliness. Yan Wangsun: Yan Wangsun wanted to curse, but he never did. After all, being allowed to stay meant he passed the test, which was a good thing. Next, called the chubby examiner. Barbarian Bone entered the room, and Yan Wangsun, seeing Barbarian Bones simple appearance, somewhat disdained him, thinking this person would surely be yed by the examiner just like himself. Go see if theres anyone selling potatoes at the market, asked the chubby examiner, posing the same question. Barbarian Bone simply acknowledged and left, returning after more than ten minutes. Theres an old man at the market pushing a cart selling potatoes, eighty pounds of them, three coins per pound, the quality matches the price, and the old man said if you buy more potatoes, the price could be ten percent cheaper Barbarian Bones answer was extremely detailed, even addressing issues the chubby examiner hadnt considered, leaving Yan Wangsun, who stood by, stunned. Despite Barbarian Bones robust appearance, he was actually a person with a delicate heart and considerate thoughts. He excelled in learning humbly, especially from Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. From the current situation, theres still a long way to go before graduation. Congrattions, youve been kept. See, what did I tell you, this Barbarian Bone is a promising seed, right? The vice sect leader was pleased to see Barbarian Bone pass the test again, proving his question design was correct. Others managed to answer the examiners four questions in two runs, barely qualifying. But only Barbarian Bone perfectly matched his expectations. The sect leader nodded, It seems the second challenge tests whether the task is done thoroughly, whether one can consider things from their superiors perspective. In the path of cultivation, one must be careful and leave no trace, to avoid giving the righteous path any leverage. Moreover, only by considering the superiors perspective can one demonstrate potential for promotion, which is why the vice sect leader designed the second challenge based on various considerations. This time, there shouldnt be another method, the vice sect leader said with a smug smile. The sect leader remained silent, focusing on the two individuals who had performed excellently in the first challenge. His intuition told him that perhaps there was another way. (End of the chapter) Chapter 71: Sincerity Chapter 73: Sincerity Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The test for the second challenge is to genuinely convince the examiner to keep me? Meng Jingzhou read the passing condition in his mind again. What a strange test. It sounds not too difficult. But where am I now? Meng Jingzhou sat on a row of benches, with four people in front of him and five behind, making up a group of ten, with him right in the middle. Oh, I see, Im applying for a position at amerce association. The setting given to him by the Evesting Sect popped into his mind. Meng Jingzhou looked at the white wall in front of him, his right hand moved unconsciously, bending his middle and ring fingers. Nothing came out. Huh? Why am I making such a weird gesture? Meng Jingzhou was puzzled, not remembering ever having such a habit. Never mind, lets focus on the application. Meng Jingzhou noticed that after the first person entered the room where the examiner was, they hurried out, then rushed back in, going back and forth three or four times. Meng Jingzhou enthusiastically shouted, Hey, brother, what are you running for? Is the examiner testing your running speed? Then I suggest you change your shoes, the quality of the shoes can really help with your running speed. Also, your starting position, squat on the ground, support yourself with both hands, arch your body, thats the fastest way to run. Believe me, I have a lot of experience The person looked at Meng Jingzhou as if he were an idiot, ignoring him, and ran out to check the quality of the potatoes. It was clearly stated in the rules that candidates are not allowed to disclose the questions to each other. The first, second, third, fourth person, each one ran quite diligently, naturally, none of them passed. Whether they passed or not, after the interview, they disappeared immediately, so those behind couldnt judge whether running back and forth more times meant passing or failing. Next up, Meng Jingzhou! the chubby examiner called from inside. Here Ie. Meng Jingzhou walked in, full of energy. The chubby examiner, as usual, asked with a smile, Meng Jingzhou, can you go to the market and see if anyones selling potatoes? Meng Jingzhou didnt move. The chubby examiner thought he hadnt made himself clear, so he repeated the question slowly and clearly. This time Meng Jingzhou spoke, Why? What do you mean, why? The chubby examiner couldnt follow Meng Jingzhous line of thought. I mean, why do I need to go to the market to see if anyones selling potatoes? Do you know what were doing right now? Were having an interview, the chubby examiner said as if it were obvious. Exactly, you said it yourself, this is an interview, not running errands for you. Besides, didnt you ask the same question to the previous four people? You asked one question four times and still not satisfied, and you want to ask a fifth time? The chubby examiner patiently said, This is a test question. Meng Jingzhou went to the market obediently and reported back, There are potatoes for sale. How many potatoes? Meng Jingzhou didnt know the answer, stood up to leave, and the chubby examiner smirked, thinking juste back one more time, and Ill dere you failed. Unexpectedly, when Meng Jingzhou opened the door, there stood an old man right outside. Meng Jingzhou asked the old man at the door, How many potatoes do you have in your cart? The old man said, Eighty pounds. Meng Jingzhou turned around and said, He said there are eighty pounds of potatoes. Do you also want to ask how much they cost per pound? The chubby examiner opened his mouth but didnt manage to ask how much per pound because the old man at the door could answer immediately. Whats the point in asking then! Why did you bring the potato seller here?! the chubby examiner angrily said. How was he supposed to continue the test now? Meng Jingzhou shrugged, I asked him if several people hade over asking about the potatoes. The old manined that several people had looked at his potatoes, ran back, came over again to ask how many pounds there were, ran back again, and also asked how much they cost per pound, asking without buying. I asked if he wanted to meet the person who kept asking without buying, he said yes, so I brought him over. The chubby examiner: What to do next, nobody had ever told him he might encounter this situation. Thinking of Meng Jingzhous disrespect towards him, the chubby examiner hardened his heart and shouted, You cant anticipate whats expected, youre eliminated Before the chubby examiner could finish, Meng Jingzhou kicked him, Nonsense expectations, giving you this fatty face! After saying that, Meng Jingzhou ran out. The chubby examiner pped the table to pieces, You stop right there! The examiner genuinely wanted to keep Meng Jingzhou from leaving, so Meng Jingzhou passed the test. The vice sect leader rubbed his temples in pain, What kind of bizarre method of passing is this? He had set the rule that examiners must genuinely want to keep the interviewee to prevent some from taking shortcuts, such as bribing the examiner. He thought he had been meticulous enough, but he hadnt anticipated such an unexpected method of passing. The examiner wanted to genuinely keep Meng Jingzhou so much that he genuinely wanted to tear Meng Jingzhou apart. Was there something wrong with this kids brain, or was it actually me who was brainless? Evesting Being, give me an answer, the vice sect leader muttered, praying to the Evesting Being, hoping for a response. If only the Evesting Being could hear you, the sect leader interrupted the vice sect leaders prayer. The vice sect leader didnt think the sect leader was spheming; he knew the sect leader was the most devout believer in the Evesting Sect. He sighed, How many times have we tried and failed? Weve never been able to revive the Evesting Being. If we could, what would the Great Xia Dynasty matter, or the righteous path? None would be a match for the Evesting Being! Only with a sacrifice of blood can the Evesting Being be revived. The two did not discuss this topic further. The vice sect leader asked, What do you think of this Meng Jingzhou? The sect leader marveled, Unconventional, truly a talent. The sect leader thought, thankfully, he hadnt agreed with the vice sect leader that there would definitely not be another way to pass; otherwise, where would he, as the sect leader, put his face? This kid is also considered a talent? Of course, I think our Evesting Sect needs this kind of talent with a way of thinking different from ordinary people. You see, the Dao Seeking Sect of the righteous path, why can it survive in the world? Ive summarized a few reasons, and the most important reason is that they possess wisdom beyond what ordinary people canprehend. The vice sect leaders mouth twitched, thinking the sect leader really had a way of making madness sound so elegant and fresh. The sect leader continued, Maybe this Meng Jingzhou could be a core force for our Evesting Sect, even a pir! Speaking of Meng Jingzhou, that noticeable kid from the first challenge, seems to be called Lu Yang. How did he perform? Making the examiner genuinely want to keep me? Lu Yang pondered, Whats so difficult about that? Just give the examiner a kick, and maybe spit on him for good measure, guaranteed to anger the examiner. Not just to keep me, but he might even wish to keep my life. But that method is too barbaric. Only a brute like Meng Jingzhou would use such a method. Im a civilized person, I cant do the same. (End of the chapter) Chapter 72: The Three Outstanding Figures of the Demonic Sect Chapter 72: The Three Outstanding Figures of the Demonic Sect Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Among the ten interviewees, Lu Yang was sixth in line. He also noticed that the people in front of him entered the examiners room and then sprinted out at the speed of a 100-meter dash, only to run back in and out several times. What kind of bizarre test is this? Lu Yang, unable to sit still, knew the rules stated that discussing the interview content with other candidates was forbidden, but it didnt say anything about going outside to take a look. Lu Yang asked a demonic cultivator sitting next to him, who was resting with his eyes closed, Do you want to go outside and have a look? The demonic cultivator nced at Lu Yang disdainfully, smirked coldly, and said nothing. Why would a demonic cultivator act collectively? It must be a trap; no way he was going. Seeing the other person didnt respond, Lu Yang felt pity for him. He looks quite handsome, just a pity hes deaf. Wonder what he will do during the interview if he cant hear what the examiner says? Seeing no one paid him any attention, Lu Yang went outside. Outside was a bustling market, with vendors selling fruits, eggs, pork Allmon foods could be found here, with vendors either setting up stalls or pushing carts around to peddle their goods. An apple, please. Lu Yang bought an apple, wiped it, and ate it while observing the actions of the interviewees. Just then, the third person ran out to see if anyone was selling potatoes, noticed a vendor, and immediately went back to report to the examiner. Less than three minutester, the third person ran out again, asking the potato vendor how much per pound and the total amount avable. Three minutester, it was still the third person, running out to check the quality of the potatoes. Then came the fourth person, whose process was almost identical to the thirds, except he ran four times, not as quick-witted as the third. Lu Yang munched on his apple, deep in thought. Next, Fang Hao, called the chubby examiner. Fang Hao was the person Lu Yang had asked if he wanted to go outside together. Here! Surprisingly, Fang Hao wasnt mute. Go to the market and see if theres anyone selling potatoes, the chubby examiner repeated his usual question. Fang Hao hurried out and took a long time to return, which puzzled the chubby examiner. Just as the chubby examiner was getting impatient, Fang Hao came back, Theres no one selling potatoes at the market. How many pounds of potatoes wait, what did you say? No one selling potatoes? Fang Hao didnt understand why the chubby examiner reacted so strongly and nodded, Yes, I ran around the market twice and confirmed theres no one selling potatoes. Thats impossible! The chubby examiner thought Fang Hao was lying, so he hurried out, with Fang Hao following behind. As soon as the chubby examiner stepped outside, he saw Lu Yang pushing a cart of potatoes with a sign that read Potatoes Not for Sale. The old man who was supposed to be selling potatoes was happily counting his money next to him. Seeing the chubby examiner, Lu Yang pushed the cart and ran, infuriating the examiner. What would happen to the rest of the interviews if the potatoes ran away? Stop right there!! Lu Yang passed the test. Outrageous! The vice sect leader roared, a domineering and terrifying aura emanating from him, shaking the entire hall, causing ripples on the surface of the pool, blurring the scene. His meticulously designed test was filled with loopholes by these two troublemakers, an utter disgrace! The sect leader calmly stepped in to contain the vice sect leaders aura. They had built the hall in a ce not easily discovered, and it would be a joke if they were discovered by the righteous path because of this. The sect leader advised, Dont get angry so easily. Right now, they have forgotten everything and only remember they need to find a way to pass. We are a demonic sect, focusing on killing to resurrect the immortal. How could we kill over such a matter? Moreover, these two individuals have taken an unconventional path, which is a rare talent. The development of our Evesting Sect has alwayscked a major breakthrough, and I think these two are our hope. The vice sect leader felt that there was no hope for the Evesting Sect. The sect leader excitedly said, Speaking of which, this Barbarian Bone, along with Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang, they alle from Yanjiang County, right? Who would have thought that such a small ce as Yanjiang County could produce three talents? It wouldnt be an exaggeration to call them the three outstanding figures of the demonic sect. With these three, our sect is like a tiger that has grown wings! The vice sect leader muttered under his breath, A tiger that has grown wings, isnt that Qiongqi? Even Qiongqi cant defeat the righteous path. The sect leader red at him, Youve shown off you have culture. Now shut up. The vice sect leader obediently kept quiet. (TL Note: Qiongqi is a mythological beast part of the Four Perils from the ssic of Mountains and Seas.) Yanjiang Lodge. Eleven stewards exerted all their strength to maintain the formation, while nearly a hundred demonic cultivators stood still, their eyes vacant, mindless, as their consciousness reced their physical bodies in the test. Maintaining the formation was too boring, so the stewards chatted while eating Qi-restoring pills, Qin Yuanhao has been missing for so long, hes probably dead. Definitely dead, just not sure how he died. Ive always said, that kid, always scheming this and that, thinking everything was under his control, was bound to anger some enemy who would take advantage of a dark and windy night to finish him off. Qin Yuanhaos body hasnt been found yet. Was he killed by an enemy? What else? Could it be that a benefactor turned foe and killed him? In our line of work, we dont have benefactors. I heard that the night before Qin Yuanhao died, he was out enjoying himself at a brothel with Wang Big Mouth? The stewardsughed softly, theirughter echoing. Just as Qin Yuanhao had hoped, Wang Big Mouth spread everywhere how Qin Yuanhao and he were invincible at the brothel, going in and out seven times. Then Qin Yuanhao died. Thus, a rumor spread throughout Yanjiang Lodge that Qin Yuanhao died from exhaustion. If Qin Yuanhao knew this under the nine springs, he could rest in peace. I wonder how many will pass the test this time. Although many participate in the initiation ceremony, only one in ten passing the test and sessfully joining the sect is considered good. They had be stewards through simr tests and knew the difficulty. This time, with the vice sect leader personally overseeing it, the difficulty was definitely among the highest of all tests! Only the lodge master knows the oue. The eleven looked towards the lodge master in meditation. The lodge master also used the formation to enter the mysterious space constructed by the Evesting Sect, where all lodge masters could see the performance of their respective lodges. The performance of Lu Yang and the others was outstanding, making the lodge masters face bloom like a chrysanthemum with joy. But he wore a mask, so no one could see how happy he was. He excitedly muttered to himself, If these three pass smoothly and receive high praise from above, Yanjiang Lodges annual performance will definitely be in the forefront. With some maneuvering and a cultivation boost, maybe next year I could be transferred to a wealthier ce as a lodge master, or even directly promoted to a hall master! After the three tests, the vice sect leader or sect leader would give a rating to the new members who performed exceptionally, like Qin Yuanhaos rating was demonic nature to the bone. The lodge master believed the rating for Lu Yang and the others would definitely be higher than Qin Yuanhaos. Just one look at these three, and you know theyre up to no good! (End of the chapter) Chapter 73: The Righteous Path Spy Chapter 73: The Righteous Path Spy Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Huh? Are we back again? Lu Yang opened his eyes and found himself once again in the mysterious white space. There were many familiar faces around, Meng Jingzhou, Barbarian Bone, Chi Xulong, Shen Jinyi, and others. Out of the ten who sessfully passed the previous two challenges in Yanjiang Lodge, Lu Yang only recognized halfsince he hadnt had the chance to deceive personal information from the other half while impersonating the examiner. The memories of passing the previous two challenges gradually returned to his mind: the Mantis Fist from the first challenge, pushing the potato cart in the second It seems that the Evesting Sects tests are not so difficult. Lu Yang felt his methods were just standard operations, achievable by anyone with a brain. I think so too, agreed Meng Jingzhou. For the first challenge, getting bitten by a spider, and for the second, just punching that fatty. Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou with slight surprise: Huh? Howe our methods of passing are different? Meng Jingzhou confidently waved his hand: That still needs to be asked? Obviously, mine is the standard answer, and you just stumbled through. Lu Yang scoffed at Meng Jingzhous confidence: Ridiculous, my first challenges Mantis Fist showcased my martial arts prowess. What does your first challenge show, good luck? Does bing a member of the Evesting Sect depend on that? Clearly, mine is the standard answer! I advise you to face reality. Barbarian Bone, watching the two arguing fiercely from the sidelines, silently recalled his own method of passing. Learning perseverance from the spider in the first challenge, and nning from the mantis, then empathetic thinking and thoroughness in the second challenge. It seems my method of passing was rather ordinary. It appears that Lu and Mengs methods are the correct ones. Just not sure whos exactly right. Barbarian Bone murmured to himself, feeling he had learned something new. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou argued for a long time without reaching a conclusion. It was Barbarian Bone, the observer, who had the clearest mind, ending their debate. Is it possible that both of your methods are correct? The demonic path values reckless abandon; theres no correct answer, or perhaps any method that leads to passing is correct. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou looked at Barbarian Bone in surprise, finding his reasoning very sound. I didnt expect the Evesting Sects test to be so open-ended. Lu Yang admired, and Meng Jingzhou nodded. Speaking of which, weve only passed two challenges, why are we back here? What about the third challenge? The three then remembered their main task. The vice sect leaders figure reappeared in the sky, holding a palm-sized sphere with a slit in the middle. He stepped forward in the air, and the mysterious white space immediately changed. Centered on him, buildings rose like a tide, with walls, pces, courtyards, towering mountains, rivers running through the city, hurried pedestrians, vendors calling out, and cultivators moving mountains and seas It was a magnificent city of cultivation! The vice sect leader then dispersed everyone by lodge, with the ten from the Yanjiang Rudder sitting in a small building with a view of the outside. The vice sect leaders emotionless voice rang in everyones ears: Congrattions on passing the first two challenges. Now, you will proceed to the third challenge. This is a simted city. Soon, I will release your true nature, which will convince you this is the real world, allowing you to do the bad things you truly wish to do. The more destructive you are, the higher our evaluation of you, with a time limit of one day and one night. After speaking, the vice sect leader raised the sphere, which opened a slit to reveal a ck pupil. This was not a sphere at all, but a giant eye! The giant eye opened, casting a bizarre purple light over the entire city. The vice sect leaders consciousness returned to the headquarters, still holding the giant eye. It truly is an Evesting Eye crafted by the Evesting Being himself, capable of unleashing ones true nature and enticing the darkest side of the human heart. Only an immortal treasure could achieve such a feat. The vice sect leader reluctantly handed the Evesting Eye back to the sect leader, cherishing the rare opportunity to use an immortals treasure. Theoretically, he didnt have the authority to use the Evesting Eye. For the purpose of initiating the third challenge, the sect leader temporarily entrusted it to him. The sect leader said, This third challenge is crucial, as it determines whether there are righteous cultivators infiltrating our ranks as spies. The Evesting Eye can release ones true nature. Righteous cultivators, being inherently good, wont cause much destruction. Under the glow of the Evesting Eye, those righteous cultivators wont even be able to act against their nature tomit murder or arson! Even when witnessing injustice, righteous cultivators will intervene to stop it, allowing us to filter out those righteous infiltrators among us! Bing a member of the Evesting Sect primarily requires not being a spy from the righteous path. The vice sect leader chuckled, Moreover, the Evesting Eye can automatically judge the level of destruction based on ones cultivation, making our job easy. With the Evesting Eye, you and I just need to wait for the results. PisshC A pedestrians heart was pierced by a sword, causing bystanders to scream and flee, while a demonic cultivator stood behind,ughing heartily, shing and killing others, leaving a trail of decapitated bodies and corpses everywhere. What a thrill, what a thrill! The demonic cultivator had never felt such exhration in killing, feeling joyful and releasing his true nature, Today, I will establish my foundation in the Evesting Sect with your corpses! He seized the opportunity to kill to his hearts content. Stop! Arge spear suddenly appeared, deflecting the demonic cultivators sword. The demonic cultivator, recognizing the neer, paused slightly, Who do I have here if not Fang Hao? Always acting so cool, I thought you were a real evildoer of the demonic path, turns out youre from the righteous path. Fang Hao struggled to calm himself, reminding himself this was a critical moment not to reveal his true identity from the righteous path, but under the purple light of the Evesting Eye, any disguise was futile. He couldnt stand the wanton ughter by the demonic cultivator and sought to stop it by any means possible! This inner urge was unstoppable by any means! Fang Hao shed with the demonic cultivator, swords and spears colliding, with no clear victor in sight. There really was a spy from the righteous path! the vice sect leader eximed angrily. Without the third challenge, this Fang Hao would have infiltrated the Evesting Sect! The sect leaders gaze was cold, You know what to do without me saying. The vice sect leader nodded, Ill have the Yanjiang Lodges master kill him right away! Kill him, my foot. Quickly inform the Yanjiang Lodges master that our location ispromised, and they need to flee immediately! Ah? The vice sect leader was taken aback. The sect leader exined impatiently, What ah? If Fang Hao could infiltrate our test, it means the righteous path already knows Yanjiang Lodges location. Dont you think we should tell them to pack up and run? What about Fang Hao? We cant kill him. The righteous path surely has a soulmp for Fang Hao. Killing him would alert them that their spys cover is blown, and theyd storm Yanjiang Lodge immediately, leaving no time to escape. (End of the chapter) Chapter 74: The Ultimate Move of the Shape-Imitating Fist Chapter 74: The Ultimate Move of the Shape-Imitating Fist Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii (TL Note: I changed Lus Shape-Imitating Fist to Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist) This is a bit tricky, Lu Yang clicked his tongue, sensing something amiss. Everyone else from Yanjiang Lodge had already left in a hurry to cause trouble, leaving only the three of them behind. Without restraint, the three of them alone could turn the entire cultivation city upside down. Unfortunately, their nature didnt allow it; they were here in the demonic sect as undercover agents, among many genuine demonic cultivators. No wonder Ive never heard of anyone sessfully infiltrating the Immortal Sect as an undercover agent; theres actually such a test, Meng Jingzhou also found it exceptionally challenging. Whats the worst thing you guys want to do? Lu Yang asked. It took a while for Meng Jingzhou to uncertainly respond, Does going to a brothel count? He had been forbidden by his family from ces like brothels since he was young. The uncles and brothers who had been to brothels said it was a terrifying ce, not suitable for kids. Seeing the miserable state of his uncles and brothers kneeling and scrubbing the washboard after returning from brothels, Meng Jingzhou believed brothels indeed were terrifying ces. Now, as a single oh no, with a Pure Yang Spirit Root, he was even less able to go. For Meng Jingzhou, rebelling by going to a brothel was the worst thing he could think of. Barbarian Bone couldnt even begin to think of anything. Forget it, we still have a days time, lets go rx at the brothel, Lu Yang suggested, already having a n in mind. A joke, could these rules really restrain him? It was still early; there was no need to act now. After all, opportunities like this were rare; it might as well fulfill Meng Jingzhous wish first. Meng Jingzhous eyes lit up, right, this isnt their real bodies, a visit wouldnt hurt. Lets go, lets go, Meng Jingzhou urged the two to join him. He would feel uneasy going to such ces alone. Unable to persuade Meng Jingzhou otherwise, they had no choice but to apany him. The brothel was in a conspicuous location, and the three easily found it. Dressed mboyantly, the sisters at the entrance were using handkerchiefs to attract customers, their slight gestures pulling in the souls of passersby. At the brothels entrance, Barbarian Bone got cold feet and began retreating, I am a schr; this is not a ce for schrs. The sage said that the beauty of a woman is a skeleton, and the citys downfall turns to white bones. I cannot make a mistake. Despite much persuasion, they couldnt change his mind and had to give up. Lu Yang, being a true friend, said, Since youre unwilling to go to the brothel, Ill go in your ce. Barbarian Bone sighed in relief, thinking Lu Yang was reliable. Then, he watched in disbelief as Lu Yang performed a series of Shape-Imitating Fist moves, transforming into his own likeness. Barbarian Bone: !!! Lu Yang patted the stunned Barbarian Bone, signaling him to rx, Im going. Barbarian Bone quickly grabbed his duplicate, You cant go! Even if you do, you cant transform into me! Im doing this out of kindness for you, how unfortunate if you cant go. Lu Yangs sincerity was palpable. Barbarian Bone firmly disagreed. Dont be shy, Lu Yang persuaded. In reality, Lu Yang was also nervous; he had never been to such ces before. What if something went wrong? He couldnt let Meng Jingzhou ridicule him for a lifetime. Naturally, Lu Yang thought of transforming into Barbarian Bones appearance; if there was any embarrassment, it wouldnt be his own. He certainly couldnt reveal this thought. As the three were arguing, they heard a loud bang from the brothel, followed by womens screams and mens raucousughter. The three turned sharply to see over a dozen cultivators wreaking havoc in the brothel, with abducted respectable women in their arms. These cultivators didnt bother to conceal their cultivation levels, all at the Foundation Establishment stage, and even two or three of them had an aura not inferior to the previously encountered tiger demon! These individuals were all cultivators who hade to participate in the trial. Scoundrels! A righteous fury rose from the depths of their hearts,pelling them to intervene and stop these people. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were about to act but were restrained by Lu Yang. Lets not be hasty. There are only three of us; we cant possibly defeat them. What do we do then? Meng Jingzhou asked urgently. Lu Yang waved his hand, I have a way to temporarily boost my strength. Just give me a moment. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were curious. They didnt have any strength-enhancing pills like the Ten Bulls Strength Pill on them. Could it be that Lu Yang had learned some secret technique to temporarily increase his cultivation level? Lu Yang took a deep breath, and his movements softened. His gaze shifted from lively to cold, expressionless, and aloof. Meng Jingzhou squinted, then suddenly widened his eyes in realization. That motion was strikingly simr to their Senior Sister Yun Zhi! Lu Yang was practicing the Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist, transforming into the image of Senior Sister Yun Zhi. He had joked before that the Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist had nine levels, and upon reaching the ninth level, one could instantaneously transform into a Transcending Tribtion stage powerhouse. He made such a im because he noticed when he transformed into Barbarian Bone, his physical strength was somewhat stronger than his actual self. The Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist could acquire a portion of the transformed persons power! There were definitely limits to this power; it couldnt increase indefinitely, but it was still incredibly powerful. Lu Yang wanted to transform into Senior Sister Yun Zhi to see how much strength he could gain and whether it would be enough to defeat these people. Sorry, Senior Sister. A breathtakingly beautiful woman appeared, her presence radiant, and her demeanor carrying an eternal frost that seemed to have not melted for thousands of years. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, upon seeing this beautiful woman, instinctively held their breath, their legs trembling. Lu Yang had sessfully transformed into Senior Sister Yun Zhi! Lu Yang felt a powerful force descending from the heavens, surging into his body! At the Heavens Gate Peak of the Dao Seeking Sect, Yun Zhi sat cross-legged, her eyes open, gazing into the sky as if she could see the endless stars beyond. Her presence was minimized to the extreme, making her seem like a mere mortal to any observer. But mortals do not float at the peak of mountains, nor do their eyes reflect the brilliant gxy. Hm? Who borrowed my power? Yun Zhi withdrew her gaze, sensing a trace of her power being siphoned away, flying off into the distant void. Its time to see who has such gall! Yun Zhi had never encountered such a daring thief before. She shattered her mortal facade, releasing her aura like a sharp spear, piercing the clouds, showcasing the demeanor of the Dao Seeking Sects Senior Sister. Yun Zhis soul detached, transforming into a sharp beam of light, chasing after the sliver of power that had separated from her body. Cough! Lu Yang couldnt bear even a fraction of Senior Sisters strength and reverted to his original form. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone also breathed a sigh of relief; Lu Yang, in the guise of Senior Sister, was too oppressive. Crack A crisp sound emanated from above. Whether it was the demonic cultivators engaged in murder and arson or the three heroes poised for a righteous act, everyone halted their actions, staring dumbfounded at the sky. The seemingly boundless space unexpectedly developed a crack, as if struck by an unknown force. Crack, crack, crack The crack widened, turning into a gaping hole as if the heavens had opened up. A dazzling figure appeared at the breach, her brow furrowed. This aura is it from the demonic path? (End of the chapter) Chapter 75: Fleeing for Life! Chapter 75: Fleeing for Life! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii In the headquarters of the Evesting Sect, inside an ancient bronze cauldron, mists of white vapor swirled, hosting the consciousness of the demonic cultivators. The Evesting Eye opened, casting a light screen that disyed rankings. The Sect Master and Vice Sect Master were observing the exceptional performances of those ranked at the top. Look at this person from Kunlun City. He recites the Rebirth Mantra before killing. Quite a sense of ritual. I heard he was a monk in a temple before, advocating that killing leads to enlightenment. He secretly killed many. When the abbot found out and decided to execute him, he smashed the Buddha statue and fled. He joined our Evesting Sect to see if the Evesting Being truly supports his philosophy. That youngster from Quhe County is quite creative too. He incited kin against kin, making children kill their fathers and grandsons kill their grandfathers, then turning the dead into puppets. Oh, this one is interesting. He smashed the load-bearing walls, causing buildings to copse and kill many. They enthusiastically reviewed the top-ranked cultivators. Those who could make it to the top were all ruthless and likely to rise to high positions in the future. What about those three who performed well in the first two trials? After scrolling through the light screen for a while, they found Lu Yang and his group discussing whether to visit the brothel. The Vice Sect Master was displeased with their low ranking: So far behind. Could they be righteous spies incapable of wrongdoing? The Sect Master shook his head wisely: We shouldnt think like that. I believe this Lu Yang is quite resourceful. He must have a n to make a big impact. Not all misdeeds need to be rushed; long-term nning is sometimes the better strategy. Seeing no action from Lu Yang, they scrolled back to the top to see what the number one had done. The first ce is a poison user, he poisoned a well, killing an entire street. He also poisoned cattle to make them rampage through the streets, killing many. Excellent use of poison. What a strange method, buying up a block of shops and then firing all the staff. And this one, simr, bought the shops and then forced the staff to work overtime without pay? This counts as wrongdoing? The Vice Sect Master felt out of touch with the times. Suddenly, a powerful soul descended from the sky, breaking through the sects defenses and heading straight for the ancient bronze cauldron brimming with primordial energy! The cauldron, unable to withstand such brute force, developed a fine crack on its surface! Not my cauldron! the Sect Master eximed. The cauldron, known as the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, capable of containing all things, was his lifes work, a magic treasure just a step away from being a celestial treasure! A soul descent, a righteous powerhouse has discovered us! The Sect Master was in disbelief. What had happened that they were discovered by a righteous powerhouse in the blink of an eye? This presence is it Yun Zhi from the Dao Seeking Sect?! The Sect Master recognized the familiar aura, recalling some dreadful memories, his spine chilling. The Vice Sect Master, with a fierce look, prepared to fight: Yun Zhi? Just a disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect. With all of us together, cant we take her down? Yun Zhi seldom acted, and her reputation in the Central Continent was not as prominent as that of an Dao Seeking Sect master, eight elders, or even Dai Bufan. But herck of fame did not mean shecked power. Those who had witnessed her in action were profoundly shaken, overturning their understanding of cultivation. The Sect Master had seen Yun Zhis power firsthand: plucking stars, reversing yin and yang, effortlessly suppressing formidable enemies, making him feel his three thousand years of cultivation were wasted. The Sect Master kicked the Vice Sect Master aside, indicating it was time to struggle for their lives: Youve never seen her in action and dont understand her terror. Listen to me, run now, or even the Evesting Being wont save you! His leadership was not just due to his devotion to the Evesting Being or his high cultivation but also his caution, knowing when to struggle for life, flee for life, or resign. Facing Yun Zhi head-on was not struggling for life; it was resignation. The Sect Master cast ancient and profound seals towards the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, attempting to block Yun Zhis advance. The Vice Sect Master, having never seen the Sect Master so agitated, realized the gravity of the situation. He sent an urgent message to all high-ranking officials, ordering an immediate escape to an alternate headquarters. The Evesting Sect had detailed ns and escape routes for an ambush by the righteous path, rehearsed multiple times, making the leadership well-versed in them. In a blink, the Sects high ranks vanished. The Sect Master, disying extraordinary powers, fortified the cauldrons seals while ensuring the return of other consciousnesses to their bodies. As the cauldrons cracks multiplied, unable to keep pace with the sealing, the Sect Master breathed a sigh of relief as everyone escaped. He severed the cauldrons connection and spat out a mouthful of lifeblood, a bacsh from his life-bound magic treasure. His energy plummeted, hisplexion ashen. Ignoring his condition, the Sect Master fled. Boom The Mountain and Rivers Cauldron shattered, shaking the entire headquarters. Yun Zhi emerged, her expression stoic, embodying an ancient warrior goddess, sacred and invible. She examined the Sect Masters blood, calcted with a flick, and a cold light shed in her eyes. That direction. Conjuring a zing white light, like a thunderbolt purging evil, sheunched it at the Sect Master. Surprised to be discovered by Yun Zhi, he couldnt dodge in time, and a wound opened on his shoulder. Golden Cicada Shedding! The Sect Master had many escape techniques. By the time Yun Zhi caught up, only a remnant of his body was left. Back at the alternate headquarters, the Sect Master, staggering, stuffed himself with life-sustaining pills. Severing the connection with the cauldron and using the Golden Cicada Shedding technique took a toll he wouldnt recover from for hundreds of years. But the most significant loss was the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, crafted from the collective effort of the Sect, costing as much as ten years of the Great Xia Dynastys revenue. Such a treasure falling into the Dao Seeking Sects hands was a grievous loss. How do you feel? the Vice Sect Master inquired, still shaken by Yun Zhis action. Had it been him, he would have perished. Only the Sect Masters skill saved him. I wont die. The Sect Master was also shaken, Luckily, we had a backup n and a prepared hideout. Yun Zhi couldnt find us, or the four major demonic sects would have be three. With the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron shattered, lets end the third trial. Lets see whos in first ce now. The Evesting Eye projected a light screen with a name at the top. The first ce, Lu Yang. Hmm? (End of the chapter) Chapter 76: Evaluation Chapter 76: Evaluation Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Who exactly borrowed my power? Yun Zhi wondered. The Evesting Sect had fled lock, stock, and barrel, not even leaving a person behind, only the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, which was valuable enough to buy a top-tier sect. Even now, she couldnt find who had borrowed her power. Magic includes a spell called Divine Descent, which allows borrowing power with the owners permission. However, this spell is nearly lost and very difficult to learn; Yun Zhi hadnt seen it used in a long time. And who could borrow power without her consent? Yun Zhi felt the person who borrowed the power had no ill intent, which is why she instinctively didnt resist the power leakage. Yun Zhi had a guess who it might be. But where did he learn Divine Descent? Yun Zhi didnt remember teaching Lu Yang such a spell. First ce, Lu Yang. Hm? The first ce changed? The Vice Sect Leader was puzzled; they had been too busy fleeing to notice what Lu Yang had done. The Mountain and Rivers Cauldron shattered, so they couldnt review the yback. But the Evesting Eye cannot be wrong; these three caused the most destruction! The Sect Leader affirmed, he also hadnt guessed what Lu Yang had done. The previous first ce, in a short time, had killed hundreds and put thousands in danger, and Lu Yang managed to surpass him to be first, truly unimaginable. But theres no need to guess; the Evesting Eye, being a treasure of the immortals, even more superior than the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, is absolutely infallible. Indeed, Lu Yang summoning Yun Zhi, destroying the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, and the headquarters of the Evesting Sect, brought about one of the top three acts of destruction in its history. In terms of damage brought to the Sect Leader alone, he deserves first ce. The Sect Leader, forgetting his pain, proudly said, See, I told you, this Lu Yang has great wisdom. Just when youre not paying attention, he can make a big move, now hes in first ce. Dont underestimate Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, whom you favor. Given enough time, they would surely rank second and third. The Vice Sect Leader was thoroughly convinced, the Sect Leader is indeed the Sect Leader, not only cautious in action but also sharp in insight. No wonder hes the Sect Leader, and the other is only a Vice Sect Leader. Whats your evaluation of Lu Yang? After pondering for a moment, the Sect Leader slowly said, In the first challenge, Lu Yang took an unconventional approach, revealing his martial arts talent, entering the path through martial arts, which is rare in the world. In the second challenge, he observed closely, summarized the rules, bought all the potatoes, making it impossible for subsequent interviewees to take the test, showing his tremendous potential for destruction. This characteristic was even more pronounced in the third challenge, calling him a natural-born demon wouldnt be an exaggeration. The Vice Sect Leader was amazed; he had known the Sect Leader for so long yet had never heard him give such high praise to anyone. And Meng Jingzhou? Meng Jingzhou, in the first challenge, gained strength from a spider bite, which is a manifestation of luck. In this great era, he is like a chosen one. In the second challenge, he meticulously studied the test question, thought from multiple perspectives, seemingly arrogant and domineering, but actually nning every step carefully, eventually breaking through the examiners psychological defense to pass the test. Unfortunately, the third challenge ended before he could demonstrate his strengths, slightly inferior to Lu Yang. A demon or a god descends, is also an extremely rare evaluation. Not many young people receive such high praise from the Sect Leader. Meng Jingzhous future is boundless. And Barbarian Bone? In the first challenge, he showed insight, persistence, and strategy. In the second, his problem-solving was quite thorough. Its just that hecked decisiveness in the third challenge. Among the past tests, he belongs to the group with extremely outstanding performance. Unfortunately, with such precedents, I can only give him the evaluation of Demon in Heart.'' Demon in Heart, ording to past experiences, as long as one does not fall, they can all be high-ranking officials of the Evesting Sect. Should we bring them to the headquarters for meticulous cultivation? the Vice Sect Leader asked. The Sect Leader shook his head, sharing his wisdom, Dont rush. Start from the grassroots level, at least two years of grassroots experience is essential. Trust me, grassroots experience is very helpful for future growth. Thats how I came up. Moreover, I have a n. Lu Yang is imaginative and possesses great destructive power. Lets see if he can infiltrate righteous sects, such as the Dao Seeking Sect, as he grows. The Vice Sect Leader chuckled, thinking the Sect Leader was overestimating them. It might be feasible to infiltrate other sects, but the Dao Seeking Sect was a tall order. The ideas of the Dao Seeking Sect disciples are hard to keep up with; infiltrating it would soon reveal them as out of ce. Infiltrating the Dao Seeking Sect is easier said than done. Im off to heal, said the Sect Leader before retreating to a secret chamber for recuperation. The Vice Sect Leader, from beginning to end, had no intention of usurping power, and today was an example. Of course, killing the Sect Leader would allow him to climb up a step, but what then? What if the righteous path attacks again? Could he make the right decisions? One wrong judgment could lead to death under the righteous paths maneuvers, and by then, regretting usurpation would be toote. Yanjiang Lodge. Ten people passed the test, and three received the evaluations of Natural-Born Demon, Demon or God Descends, and Demon in Heart?! The helmsman, hearing the message from the Sect Leader, was so pleased his eyebrows lifted. This was even better than his best estimation! A promotion opportunity was right before his eyes! Those demonic cultivators who failed the first and second challenges, during their unconscious state, the eleven stewards acted separately, disposing of them in various locations. When they woke up, they would forget the location of Yanjiang Lodge, thinking their recent experiences were just a dream. The most foolproof method would be to kill them, ensuring the location of Yanjiang Lodge would never be exposed. However, the Evesting Sect, considering the bigger picture, did not do so. These demonic cultivators caused trouble wherever they went, attracting the attention of the righteous path. Amidst various chaotic information, the righteous path could not discern which actions were of the demonic cultivators and which were of the demonic sects, achieving the effect of muddying the waters. Lu Yang and the others gradually woke up, their minds a bit muddled from the overwhelming experiences. Thest scene they remembered before passing out was the eldest senior sister descending from the sky?! Lu Yang broke out in a cold sweat, hoping the eldest senior sister hadnt seen him transform into her likeness. If she had, hed be skinned alive. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone also remembered what happened. Lu Yangs Shape-Imitating Fist had summoned the real eldest senior sister. Lu Yang warned them with his eyes not to leak the news, and they promptly nodded in understanding. The helmsman suppressed his joy, attempting to sound as neutral as possible, From today on, you ten are members of our Evesting Sect. Normally, an initiation ceremony should be held, but todays three rounds of tests have drained everyones energy, myself included. It would be disrespectful to pay homage to the Evesting Being in this state. Lets formally hold the initiation ceremony here tomorrow. Lu Yang could tell from the helmsmans tone and the expressions of the eleven stewards that their faith in the Evesting Being wasnt a facade but a genuine belief in the existence of the Evesting Being. No wonder its called a sect,'' Lu Yang thought. (TL Note: To everyone who also didnt know this, A sect is a religious group that exists inside of arger religion I debated changing it to cult but Im honestly toozy and it mostly fits lol) The helmsman continued, However, it wouldnt be right not to celebrate the addition of new members today. Lets go out for a meal. I heard theres a new barbecue restaurant in the county called Come Again, with good reviews. Lets meet there in a bit; my treat. Lu Yang: Meng Jingzhou: Barbarian Bone: No rest, then? (End of the chapter) Chapter 77: Where's the Owner, Come Out! Chapter 77: Wheres the Owner, Come Out! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii So tired, dont feel like doing anything. The three yawned in unison, their eyelids fighting a losing battle. What was the helmsman thinking, suggesting wee here to eat? They were on their way back to the barbecue restaurant, after a day of wits and bravery, finally infiltrating the enemys ranks. Now, all they wanted was to have a good meal and sleep soundly. The Evesting Sect concentrated everyones thoughts on the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, a process that caused immense fatigue. Lucky I had the specter skewer everything before we came, we can start serving as soon as we get back, Barbarian Bone mentioned, somewhat relieved. Arriving at the barbecue restaurant, Lu Yang spotted a familiar figure. Constable Wei? What are you doing here, something up? Constable Wei had been knocking on the barbecue restaurants door for a while, thinking there was nobody inside. Indeed, there was nobody inside, just two specters busily skewering, who were nearly scared to death by Constable Weis knocking and dared not open the door. Just as Constable Wei was about to give up, Lu Yang arrived. Constable Weis face lit up: Manager Lu, youre finally back. Lu Yang nodded, spouting a lie effortlessly: I saw the weather was nice this morning, and we three thought it was a great day for an outing, so we went for a stroll and just got back. Are you opening for business today? Lu Yang thought for a moment. The helmsman and his party wereing over, a total of about twenty people, which should count as opening: Yes. Constable Wei spoke in as gentle a tone as possible: Manager Lu, your barbecue restaurant has a bit of a reputation around here, and I oftene here with a few brothers. I know you just like running a barbecue ce, have no intention of expanding, and dislike others promoting you. Lu Yang nodded. Constable Wei expressed regret: My brothers cant keep their mouths shut. After eating, they went back praising how good your ce is. Now, others have be curious too. They said after shift tonight, we should alle here for a meal. The brothers on night shift at the magistrate office also said to bring some back for them. Lu Yang, seeing Constable Weis expression, thought it wasnt just his brothers who had talked, but Constable Wei himself must have spread the word too? So? There are quite a few of us bailiffs in Yanjiang County, enough to fill all the tables. The head bailiff will being too, and I was wondering if we could book the ce for the night, just serving us. Lu Yang suddenly realized, then showed a difficult expression: But I also have a few friendsing over tonight, Im afraid Constable Wei hurriedly said: No problem, no problem, the more the merrier. We can all eat together. Constable Wei had assured his colleagues they would definitely get to eat, and failing to do so would be embarrassing. Lu Yang agreed: Alright then, give us half an hour to prepare, and well open for business. Constable Wei, satisfied with the affirmative answer, happily left. As the appointed time by the helmsman neared, people from all directions gathered at the barbecue restaurant door, including the helmsman, eleven stewards, and seven new members. Chi Xulong and Shen Jinyi even brought several jars of wine. I was worried the wine here wouldnt be strong enough, so I brought a few jars of thirty-year-old spiritual wine, Daughters Red, Chi Xulong and Shen Jinyi said. This type of spiritual wine was very potent, enough to affect even those at the Foundation Establishment stage. The other five new members also brought wine as gifts, but being at the Qi Refinement stage, they couldnt bring anything exceptional. The helmsman, even changing his mask for the meal, chose one that revealed the lower half of his face. Lu Yang and hispanions stepped out of the barbecue restaurant, inviting everyone inside: Pleasee in, everything is ready. The ce was originally booked for the entire evening, but after some negotiation, the party agreed to leave us one table. The helmsman nodded, initially worried Lu Yang and his friends would be troublesome and not heed advice, considering giving them a lesson. Now, it seemed they were quite cooperative, having reserved seats in advance. Lets not stand around,e on in, the helmsman beckoned everyone. The barbecue restaurant was empty, and the helmsman naturally took the central table, thergest and best-positioned one, fitting his status. Lu Yang cautiously reminded, helmsman, this table has been reserved. Before the helmsman could respond, Chi Xulong interjected, Let them sit somewhere else. Who dares topete with us for seats? Seeing the helmsman didnt object, Lu Yang said no more. Everyone sat down, and Barbarian Bone took out the menu: What do we eat? Shen Jinyi passed the menu to the helmsman: Please order, helmsman. The helmsman gestured dismissively: Order whatever you like. Its on you, naturally you should order. No need, choose whatever. After going around the table, the menu ended up back with Barbarian Bone, who, feeling this group was overly fussy about ordering skewers, went to the backyard without demur to have the specters start grilling. Soon, Barbarian Bone brought out tters of fragrant skewers, and the smell alone told everyone the taste would be exceptional. Come on, skewers are served, pour the wine! the helmsmanughed, signaling everyone to drink. Meng Jingzhouughed, Maybe we skip the wine? Im used to drinking tea, not so fond of alcohol. The helmsman, all smiles, responded, Meng, when roaming the Jianghu, you must learn to drink. There will be plenty of asions for it in the future, start with three cups to get used to it. Meng Jingzhou still refused. Not wanting to lose face, the helmsman frowned slightly, and Chi Xulong seized the moment to scold, Whats the matter with you? The helmsman asks you to drink, and you refuse? Are you disrespecting the helmsman? Meng Jingzhou retorted, Its just drinking; how does it rte to respect? If the helmsman insists I drink, isnt that disrespecting me? Chi Xulong was about to retort that Meng Jingzhou had no right to talk about respect in front of the helmsman, but was stopped by the helmsman himself. The helmsman, seeing Meng Jingzhous potential, didnt want to argue with him. The Sect Leaders evaluation of Lu Yang and his friends was known only to the helmsman, not even to Lu Yang and hispanions themselves. Lets not make a big deal out of a wee meal. Let me introduce myself; my surname is Chu, you can call me Helmsman Chu. After the helmsmans introduction, it was the turn of the tall, thin man who had been to the brothel with Qin Yuanhao, My name is Wang He, people familiar with me like to call me Wang Big Mouth. Bai Zifang. Peng Shuo. The eleven stewards introduced themselves in turn, saying it was an introduction, but it was just stating their names. Their cultivation levels, hobbies, and special skills were not mentioned, keeping other information hidden. Trust is rare among demonic sects, with everyone preferring to keep their true selves hidden. As if no disagreement had urred, everyone enjoyed their meal harmoniously. These skewers really taste amazing, Chi Xulong, after eating a few, was pleasantly surprised. These were the best skewers he had ever tasted. He quietly asked the helmsman, Should we force the owner to hand over the recipe? These skewers could sell for spirit stones and make a fortune! The helmsman was tempted too. Murder, extortion, and ckmail were nothing new to him, and this wouldnt be the first time. Lu Yang asked from the side, And if the owner refuses to give up the recipe? Chi Xulongs eyes shed coldly, sneering, Then its up to him whether he values his life or the recipe more! mming the table, he looked for trouble, shouting, Owner,e out! The skewers are served, and you dont show your face. Do you understand the rules? Following that, Constable Weis voice rang from outside, Ha-ha, wheres the owner? Ive brought my brothers over. A crowd of bailiffs swarmed in, including the Golden Core stage head bailiff, surrounding the helmsmans table. (End of the chapter) Chapter 78: Righteous and Demonic, One Big Family Chapter 78: Righteous and Demonic, One Big Family Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The bailiffs spread out and took their seats, and Constable Wei wasnt exaggerating; indeed, many people came, nearly filling all the tables. The helmsmans table sat in the middle, surrounded by bailiffs. The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious, embodying the saying righteous and demonic, one big family. Chi Xulong quickly lowered his head in fear. Despite his notorious reputation, it was all a facade he had built for himself. Whenmitting misdeeds, he either disguised himself or wore a mask, always avoiding officials as much as possible. Now that there was no escape, he could only keep his head down and pretend to be an ostrich. Constable Wei, Im here, Lu Yang said with a smile, standing up to greet Constable Wei. Chi Xulongs eyes widened in disbelief as he realized Lu Yang was actually the owner! Youve already started eating, Constable Wei said, a bit embarrassed. No problem, what would you like to eat? Constable Wei gestured, With so many people, lets not bother ordering specifically. Just bring whatever you have. Alright, Lu Yang agreed, anticipating Constable Wei would say this. The bailiffs, smelling the delicious aroma from the helmsmans table, involuntarily swallowed their saliva. It was mealtime, and they were already hungry. The smell of food only made their hunger worse. Fortunately, Lu Yang was well-prepared. Before Constable Wei and his men arrived, he had the specters start grilling a portion of the food early so it could be served as soon as they arrived. Soon, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone brought out tes of skewers, allowing Constable Wei and his men to tide over their hunger. Constable Wei didnt say much, but he was genuinely thankful to Lu Yang for not having to wait while smelling the food, avoidingints from his colleagues. Let me introduce our head bailiff, Fang Qingyun! Fang Qingyun shook hands with Lu Yang politely. As a Golden Core stage cultivator, he could tell Lu Yang was a cultivator. Not only could he tell Lu Yang was a cultivator, but he also realized everyone at the helmsmans table were cultivators. He didnt say anything. Many cultivators ran businesses, and as long as they didnt break thew, what did it have to do with him? Running a barbecue restaurant wasnt illegal. Even if the table was taken, as the head bailiff, he couldnt bully others with his status, as it would look bad if word got out. After sitting down, Chi Xulong whispered angrily to the helmsman,ining, You scoundrel, why didnt you tell us the bailiffs wereing?! Lu Yang felt wronged: I just wanted you to build a good rtionship with the bailiffs. You should seize this opportunity. Lu Yang pointed to a banner on the wall: See? This is a banner Constable Wei gave me. He fabricated on the spot: Before joining the organization, I specifically found a good location and established connections with the government. This way, no matter what I do, the government wont suspect me. I can even eavesdrop on intelligence when theye here to drink. Helmsman Chu nodded, Lu Yangs reasoning was sound and matched the Sect Leaders evaluation. The Sect Leader had said these three might seem reckless in their actions, but there was deeper meaning behind them. One shouldnt judge them merely by their appearance. Just the act of proactively establishing rtions with the government alone demonstrated more courage and thoughtfulness than most in the sect! Come, lets drink. After a few skewers to line their stomachs, Constable Wei and his men started drinking. As more skewers were consumed, the bailiffs got more into the spirit, drinking round after round, toasting each other, creating a lively atmosphere. In stark contrast to the lively surroundings was the helmsmans table in the middle, where they drank cautiously, fearing someone might drink too much and let slip something they shouldnt. Towards the end, they stopped drinking alcohol and switched to tea instead. Seeing that the helmsmans table seemed tock atmosphere, Constable Wei felt guilty, thinking it might be because of his arrival. Holding his wine cup, he approached them. Come on, dont mind us. Once were off duty, were just ordinary folks here to enjoy some good food and drinks! Heres to us! Constable Wei said to Chi Xulong. Chi Xulong carefully picked up his tea cup, but Constable Wei, displeased, sternly said, Whats with drinking tea? Are you not giving face, pour the wine! Chi Xulong had no choice but to reluctantly pour his thirty-year-old spiritual wine and down it in one go. Seeing Constable Wei making rounds for drinks, and other bailiffs obviously drunk, they began to drink with the helmsmans table, enjoying themselves to the fullest. Nobody asked Lu Yang and his friends to drink; the owner getting drunk would certainly be bad. The potency of the thirty-year-old spiritual wine was not something those at the Foundation Establishment stage could handle, leaving Chi Xulong and others utterly intoxicated. Once the helmsman saw they had drunk enough, he found an excuse to leave. With the boss gone and under the influence of alcohol, people started to let loose. Chi Xulong and Shen Jinyi, arm in arm, resolved to unite and carve out a ce for themselves in the Evesting Sect. Your biggest w, Chi Xulong, is your impatience and mboyance. You should be more restrained! Shen Jinyi advised, considering Chi Xulongs best interests. Chi Xulong, who valued his freedom, did not appreciate being criticized: Enough with that. So, Im mboyant, and you? A shrinking turtle, afraid to act on your own, teaching students to do your bidding? Skulking around like a woman! Shen Jinyi, enraged, retorted: Chi Xulong, dont be ungrateful. Im thinking of you, dont bite back! Chi Xulong, even more angered, retorted: Who are you calling a dog? With that, he punched Shen Jinyi in the face. Shen Jinyi couldnt just take the hit; if he did, Chi Xulong, given his temperament, would surely push further. Shen Jinyi sshed his wine cup at Chi Xulong, who, despite being drunk, dodged quickly, causing the wine to ssh onto Bai Zifang, who was watching the excitement. Bai Zifang, not one to take things lying down, retaliated in kind, sshing Shen Jinyi with wine, and didnt stop there; he also smashed a te on Shen Jinyis face. The three scuffled into one mess, and others tried to intervene only to get hurt themselves, fueling their anger. They had intended to prevent the others from embarrassing themselves, but instead, they didnt appreciate it and even dared to hit them. How dare they! Under the influence of the potent spiritual wine, everyones judgment was clouded, and they didnt care they were in the presence of bailiffs, starting a brawl. tter Someone overturned a table, and items fell onto the table next to them. The bailiffs had never seen such audacity, cultivators brawling in a group. This was in front of the bailiffs; if they werent there, who knows how bad it could have gotten. Cultivators brawling in groups could identally kill bystanders, a grave matter that demanded punishment. Seeing this, Head bailiff Fang Qingyun exerted his spiritual pressure, immediately subduing the sect members. Take them away, let them sober up in jail! The sect members instantly sobered up, realizing what had happened, and broke out in cold sweat. With too many peopleing all at once, the two specters were overwhelmed, and Barbarian Bone, seeing the situation, took charge. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou rushed between the backyard and the main hall, serving skewers at a visibly fast rate. Lu Yang lifted the curtain, apologizing, Sorry, everyone, weve grilled all the skewers Whats happening here? Lu Yang saw the normally arrogant sect members sitting meekly, with the bailiffs smirking at them. Constable Wei whispered, Sorry, Manager Lu, your friends started a brawl. The head bailiff hates it when cultivators do this, its too loud, and passersby have noticed. We have to punish them, or we cant justify it. Lu Yang: Fairly speaking, Lu Yang did arrange for the sect members and bailiffs to sit together, partly in jest, but he truly hadnt expected this group to be bold enough to start a fight in front of the bailiffs. Meng Jingzhou grimaced, I told you, we shouldnt drink alcohol. It never ends well. On the day of the weing party, Chi Xulong and others were detained for ten days for brawling in a group. After hearing about the incident, Helmsman Chu was stunned for a long while. (End of the chapter) Chapter 79: The Everlasting Being Chapter 79: The Evesting Being Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Fortunately, people like Chi Xulong were seasoned veterans who wouldnt spill the secrets of the demonic sect just because they were locked up; otherwise, Helmsman Chu would have to consider silencing them permanently. Helmsman Chu sent a message, inviting Lu Yang and his friends to Yanjiang Lodge for the official initiation ceremony. As for the reckless bunch, they would cool their heels in jail for ten days first. Helmsman Chu sat leisurely on a jade chair, looking up at the three standing before him, praising, Your barbecue restaurant idea was good. Keep it up; its a channel for us to establish connections with the officials. Helmsman Chu dismissed the attendants, who were entry-level sect members not yet tested and not qualified to know the sects secrets. Lets go, Ill take you to pay homage to The Evesting Being. Helmsman Chu led the three to another floating stone, where the construction, of unknown era, had copsed under the erosion of time. The sourceless light made it look gloomy and oppressive, walking among these ruins gave a profound sense of traversing through history. Even someone as learned as Meng Jingzhou couldnt discern the era of the construction. This was definitely not a construction from the Great Xia Dynastys ten thousand years! Meng Jingzhou was secretly shocked, these buildings must be at least a hundred thousand years old! Could it be from the Great Yu Dynasty? ording to historical records, thest emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty was decadent, leading to the dynastys disintegration and chaos throughout thend. Meng Jingzhous ancestors and the ancestors of the Xia Emperor rose in rebellion, vying for the central ins. The Dao Seeking Sect was established twelve hundred thousand years ago, during the Great Yu Dynastys prime, unshakable in its position. At the end of the structures, there stood a statue about four meters tall, resembling the one seen in Qin Yuanhaos home, with a vague face, dressed in a robe, indistinguishable in gender, indeed The Evesting Being. Helmsman Chu held up three lit incense sticks, bowed deeply to The Evesting Being, then turned to the three and said, Meditate for half an hour, clear your mind of distractions. This incense was not ordinary; smelling its fragrance, their restless hearts gradually calmed down. Clearing ones mind was basic training for the three, and Helmsman Chu nodded slightly upon seeing how quickly they settled down. Even with the help of the precious incense, this speed was remarkable. Most demonic cultivators are impulsive and neglect their mental cultivation, making these three truly exceptional. Its likely they encountered some fortune elsewhere. Normally, knowing that the three had a fortune, Helmsman Chu would try to seize it, but these three were different, being individuals of special interest to the Sect Leader, he dared not act. Half an hourter, the three awoke and followed Helmsman Chus instructions to pay homage to The Evesting Being in aplex ceremony. After the borate process, the three were officially inducted as followers of the Evesting Sect. Helmsman Chu, hands behind his back, said, Before joining our sect, you may have only known us as the Evesting Sect, worshipping The Evesting Being, with the belief that bing a follower can extend ones lifespan. As for who The Evesting Being is, you likely knew very little. The three nodded; they knew next to nothing about The Evesting Being, the only deity they had heard of. Helmsman Chu spoke with reverence, The Evesting Beings existence is a taboo, living as long as the heavens and earth, witnessing the rise and fall of the world. Even if his physical body is destroyed and his soul decays, as long as a speck of his spirit remains in the mortal world, and someone remembers him, he can resurrect on the spot, achieving eternal life! Lu Yang and his friends were shocked, unsure how much of what Helmsman Chu said was true or false. Just the mere memory of The Evesting Being ensures his immortality, a notion unheard of even in myths and legends! Such a miraculous being is aptly named a Celestial. Helmsman Chu continued, In the ancient era, he ascended to celesthood through war, delighting in ughter. To please The Evesting Being, the world must be thrown into chaos and war, pleasing him with the deaths of tens of millions. This is the first step; the subsequent steps are not for your level to know. Tens of millions of deaths?! Meng Jingzhou was horrified, imagining a scene too gruesome to describe with corpses strewn everywhere. Not a lot at all, Helmsman Chu shook his head, noting that most people react simrly upon hearing this number. But think about it, with the vast expanse of the Central Continent, tens of millions might seem a lot, but it averages out to just one death in a few thousand people. Do you know how many people die each year from the burdens of life, driven to suicide by unbearable pressure, from illness, or from malpractice? How many unidentified bodies are discovered annually by the Great Xia Dynasty? Helmsman Chu scoffed, Do you know? Of course, you dont, because the Great Xia Dynasty would never dare to disclose the true numbers! If The Evesting Being is not resurrected, who will protect the vast Central Continent? Once the ancient monsters awaken, the dead will number far more than this. Is the ancient era really that terrifying? Lu Yang felt a chill in his heart. Helmsman Chu remained silent, gesturing for the three to follow him. He led them past The Evesting Beings statue, through ruins that had decayed and crumbled over time, discovered by the sects founder by chance a thousand years ago. Here, he learned of The Evesting Beings existence. The Evesting Being has been forgotten by the world, once a guardian of the world. It was our founder who brought him back into the world! Our founder replicated the relics and preserved them at various locations; this site is one of them, with a history of ten thousand years. Meng Jingzhou thought to himself that these were replicas of ancient relics; no wonder he couldnt recognize them. Only legends have been passed down from the ancient era, with very few physical items surviving. Helmsman Chu stopped in front of a stone wall, This is it, a sacrificial scene from the ancient era. The first thing they saw on the stone wall was The Evesting Being with open arms, holding numerous spheres of different sizes, some surrounded by ring-like objects, unidentified. Each sphere had a figure kneeling on it, offering tributes to The Evesting Being. What are these spheres, and why are people standing on them? Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were puzzled. Lu Yangs pupils contracted upon seeing the mural; the spheres looked just likes from his previous life, surrounded by rings of asteroid dust. Helmsman Chu slowly exined, These are calleds. In the ancient era, there was no Central Continent; all beings lived ons. At the end of the ancient era, an unfathomable entity refined all thes, creating todays Central Continent! This revtion left the three in shock! (End of the chapter) Chapter 80: Stars and the Continent Chapter 80: Stars and the Continent Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Helmsman Chus words shocked the trio, especially Lu Yang, who thought of even more implications. When he first joined the Dao Seeking Sect, he was given a rough map of the sects territory, marked as covering an area of a hundred thousand li in each directions. What does a hundred thousand li mean? Itsrger than ten Earthsid out! Considering the abilities of the Mahayana and Unity stage powerhouses described in the scriptures, only such a vast ce could amodate their full disy of powers. (TL Note: 1 li is 500m or 0.5km. The surface area of the earth is 510.1 million km2 so its actually 50 000 x 50 000 which is 2.5 billion km2 or 5 times of the earths surface area which is still a lot.) The sect had many forbidden areas, mostly used by cultivating powerhouses for dueling, where those of insufficient cultivation would perish if they merely brushed against these areas. Eldest senior sistersment upon their initiation, The sect cannot be fully exined in a few words, and you will gradually explore it, wasnt due to herziness. The Dao Seeking Sect is indeed so vast that it requires gradual exploration. This made Lu Yang consider the possibility that the Dao Seeking Sect might be the result of severalsid out t! The territory of the Dao Seeking Sect is just a corner of the Central Continent, making it hard to imagine the true size of the Central Continent! Helmsman Chu continued, In the ancient era, there were thousands, if not millions, of life-bearing stars, the exact number now unverifiable. Ancient cultivators, upon reaching the Mahayana stage, did not need artifacts to travel from one star to another. The universe was filled with damaged stars, the result of cultivator battles! The prosperity of the ancient era was truly remarkable, birthing countless myths and legends, and many powerful cultivators. Back then, the measure of a powerful cultivators strength was how manys they could destroy in one strike. The measure of power was how many life-bearings were under theirmand. At the height of ancient prosperity, a being acted. He refined the myriad of stars into one whole continent. Whether they were life-bearing or not, none could escape his grasp. The Central Continent is teeming with life because it was once a life-bearing star, making it the most suitable ce for cultivation! The oceans to the east of the Central Continent were once stars covered in water. The Golden Buddha Country to the west of the Central Continent was once an uninhabitable deste star. The same applies to the Southern Demon Territory and the Northern Extremes. Helmsman Chus words were like refreshing their understanding, they had never considered that thend beneath their feet was refined from stars! This was beyond their imagination! Who exactly refined the stars into the continent? Lu Yang asked. Helmsman Chu shook his head, not because Lu Yangs level was insufficient, but because he truly did not know: Its beyond verification, but what can be certain is that being was definitely a Celestial! Such transcendental power is not something achievable by someone at the Tribtion Crossing stage! Why did that being refine stars into a continent, and what method was used, remains a mystery. Helmsman Chu continued, What can be certain is that the method used to refine the stars was extremely brutal, without a shred ofpassion. Manipting stars, how many people living on those stars could survive? Even ordinary cultivators would have a hard time surviving. Those who survived did so not because of their high cultivation, but because of good luck! The emergence of prodigies and powerhouses who attempted to intervene was obliterated into mists of blood by that being, vanishing into the cycle of reincarnation. Fortunately, The Evesting Being intervened at that time, saving the majority of the human race, preventing the extinction of humanity. The grand era that reached its zenith shattered and copsed, leaving a long era without a single genius in sight. Where that being resides now is unknown, but he is definitely not dead. With theing of the grand era, if that being were to start a massacre, who could stop him? Only The Evesting Being! For both public and private reasons, we must resurrect The Evesting Being! Resurrecting The Evesting Being might result in the death of a small portion of people, but if we dont resurrect The Evesting Being, perhaps the entire human race might be destroyed in an instant! Itsmentable that those of the righteous path, who believe they hold the moral high ground, fail to see that our Evesting Sect is also sacrificing for the sake of humanity! Helmsman Chu spoke decisively, his eyes revealing determination. From a moral standpoint, their killings were meant to save people; from a personal standpoint, they had a legitimate reason for killing, making it justifiable. The Evesting Sect recruits mainly from the demonic path because this rationale resonates most with the psychology of demonic cultivators. Lu Yang was startled, merely listening to Helmsman Chus speech might indeed lead one to devoutly worship The Evesting Being, praying for salvation. However, Lu Yang doubted the veracity of Helmsman Chus words, or at least believed they represented only part of the truth. He did not believe the Dao Seeking Sect was ignorant of ancient events, nor did he believe the eldest senior sister was unprepared. Meng Jingzhou asked, If thats the case, why not cooperate with the righteous path? Wouldnt it be easier to seed together? Helmsman Chu scoffed, Who can guarantee that the being who refined the stars isnt hiding within the righteous path? After thorough investigation, our founder believed that the being responsible for refining the stars resides within the righteous path, if not among the five major immortal sects, then within the Great Xia Dynasty. Why does the righteous path advocate order, if not to encourage more people to cultivate, making the Central Continent more prosperous? But what after prosperity? Dont forget the tragic end of the ancient era. Perhaps that being enjoys reaping lives, waiting to act once life flourishes again! Helmsman Chus words represent the mainstream view of the Evesting Sect. Helmsman Chu added, The stars above us, seemingly hanging in the sky, but if you reach a certain level of cultivation and fly to the universe, youll find those are just remnants from the ancient era. Theoretically, there might be some stars that truly exist, but certainly not many. Helmsman Chu hoped Lu Yang and his friends would genuinely believe in The Evesting Being, seeing their shocked expressions, it seemed there was no issue. Alright, I know this information is a lot to take in, go back and digest it. Also, you three performed well in the three trials, and the lodge is in need of people right now, most are resting in jail. Your cultivation has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, meeting the criteria to be stewards, Ive considered and decided to promote you to stewards. Helmsman Chu gave them three ques, signifying their status as stewards of the Evesting Sect. In fact, Helmsman Chu had intended to make Lu Yang and his friends stewards from the beginning; the series of events just disclosed were only essible to stewards. Helmsman Chu suggested, By the way, you can visit your fellow disciples in jail when youre free. Ive heard the food there is terrible, bringing them something to eat can help build rtionships. Self-interest is paramount in the demonic path, but debts of gratitude and vengeance are also clear. Below him, its all about scheming and intrigue, making his position as helmsman challenging. However, Helmsman Chu wasnt worried about his subordinates scheming against Lu Yang and his friends, but rather that his subordinates might be outwitted by them. Lu Yang, all smiles, said, Were all brothers in the same sect, well definitely unite and work together for the resurrection of The Evesting Being, please rest assured, helmsman. For some reason, Helmsman Chu felt even less reassured after hearing this. (End of the chapter) Chapter 81: Pebble Hidden Weapons Chapter 81: Pebble Hidden Weapons Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii By the way, helmsman, you left without payingst time we had a meal. Do you owe us, or will you settle now? Barbarian Bone asked before leaving. Lu Yang quickly stopped Barbarian Bone: Hold your tongue. As people of the demonic path, dining and dashing is our divine right. Is the helmsman the kind of good guy who pays for his meals? Meng Jingzhou also chimed in: Exactly, the helmsman said he was treating us, not that he was paying. How can you not understand the difference? Helmsman Chu: He had to admit, when it came to putting someone in a tight spot, he was no match for these three. Suppressing the urge to kill, he threw a gold ingot at Barbarian Bone: No need for change. Just scram, all three of you! Barbarian Bone was bewildered. He was genuinely asking for the money, but the way Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou spoke seemed off. It sounded like they were speaking up for him but also for the helmsman. When the three left, it was already deep into the night. Lu Yang, gazing at the brilliant starry sky, sighed. Who would have thought the stars above us are all an illusion? Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. Meng Jingzhou scratched his head: Its not that surprising. My grandfather always said he would give me anything I wanted, even the stars in the sky. When I was about seven or eight, I pointed to a star and said I wanted it. My grandfather then traveled to the universe and returned with a speck of light the size of a fingernail, iming it was a star. Coincidentally, one star was missing from the night sky. I argued with my grandfather, saying a star should be huge, bigger than our yard, not this small. He just smiled mysteriously, saying thats the size of a star. And then? Lu Yang asked, intrigued. Then? The Ministry of Justice showed up, apparently a high-ranking official, using my grandfather of stealing natural resources and demanded he return the star. My grandfather returned the speck of light, and the empty spot in the night sky had a star once again. I felt something was off at the time but couldnt figure it out. It faded over time, but now, with todays discussion, I realize what I held in my hand was indeed a star. Truly worthy of the Meng family, even your childhood experiences are different from ours, Lu Yang shook his head, wondering what he was doing in his own childhood. He remembered, in his childhood, he reminisced about experiences from before his reincarnation and memorized ancient poems, like A hundred feet high tower, one can pick stars by hand. Dare not speak loudly, for fear of startling the celestial beings. As a child, he could only pluck stars in poems, but Meng Jingzhou could actually do it. Thats the difference. Recently, Lu Yang even considered writing a novel to make money, like The Wandering Earth, but in this worlds context, it wouldnt beary engines moving Earth, but rather cultivators pushing it. (TL Note: Reference to a novel by Cixin Liu. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wandering_Earth The trio didnt dwell on the matters of stars and continents anymore. Such matters were too distant for them; with their current cultivation level, moving stars was out of the question, let alone movingrge rocks. Lets rest early. Tomorrow well visit our fellow disciples in jail. The three yawned. At the Foundation Establishment stage, meditation could rece sleep with the same effect, but they still preferred sleeping. Meditation? Maybe at the Golden Core stage. Early the next morning, Lu Yang approached Constable Wei to exin their intention, and Constable Wei quickly approved the permit, allowing Lu Yang to visit the jail. Upon entering the prison, Lu Yang immediately felt his spiritual power being suppressed, rendering him unable to mobilize it and making his body sluggish. Is this the Spirit Suppression Formation Head Constable Wei mentioned? Lu Yang was surprised, not expecting the formation to be as potent as described. Head Constable Wei had informed Lu Yang about the prisons Spirit Suppression Formation when giving him the entry permit. Its a formation specifically designed for cultivators, within which a cultivators powers are restrained, preventing the use of any spells. This measure is to stop cultivators from breaking into or out of the prison. The level of the Spirit Suppression Formation in the prison is quite high, restricting even Golden Core cultivators without exception. Lu Yang arrived just as the jailers were changing shifts. The day shift jailer was yawning profusely, tears streaming down his face, appearing as if he hadnt woken up properly. The night shift jailer was about to rest and in a good mood, joking, Old Zhou, arent you usually the most alert? Why so sleepy today? Didnt do something indecentst night, did you? Old Zhou, yawning widely, replied, I dont know whats going ontely, I just cant seem to wake up properly. Getting up in the morning is tough, not just for me, my wife feels the same. Even washing my face when I got here didnt help. The night shift jailerughed, Must have been something you didst night. See, Im not tired at all. Old Zhou grumbled, Thats because youre a cultivator, not like me. The night shift jailer shrugged, Im only at the first level of Qi cultivation. Whether I can reach the second level in this lifetime is uncertain, hardly counts as a cultivator. The prisons protocol is for day shift jailers to be ordinary humans, while night shift jailers are cultivators at the first level of Qi cultivation. This ensures they remain alert and dont ck off during the night. Cultivators dislike being suppressed by the Spirit Suppression Formation just as much as anyone else, but a prison guarded solely by first-level Qi cultivators is clearly insufficient. Thus, additional covert guards, also cultivators, are stationed outside the prison. After the shift change, Lu Yang, holding his permit, approached Old Zhou. After inspecting Lu Yang and finding nothing but a lunch box on him, Old Zhou let him through. As a notorious figure among local demonic cultivators, Chi Xulong believed joining the demonic sect would allow him to achieve great things and carve out a territory to rule as a local overlord. Even being imprisoned hasnt changed his ambitions. If hes in prison, hell aim to be the top prisoner first! His first challenge is the inability to intimidate others. Locked in a cell impervious even to Foundation Establishment cultivators, without any weapons, and subjected to the taunts and jeers from the next cell, Chi Xulong was itching for retribution. Thats when his cellmate, Shen Jinyi, came up with an idea. He ced a pebble in his mouth and spat it out with a puff, the pebble flying out like a bullet with astonishing force, hitting with significant impact. Shen Jinyi, an assassin by trade, excelled at using various objects as hidden weapons. Were brothers in adversity; now more than ever, we need to unite and make our way together! Shen Jinyi said with a sense of camaraderie, teaching Chi Xulong his technique. Master this trick, and youll be invincible in prison. Lets dominate this ce together! Chi Xulong was invigorated, practicing diligently from dawn till dusk to master spitting pebbles as hidden weapons. Unfortunately, his natural talent wascking. Despite his brute strength, he never managed to learn the technique. You need to do it like this, keep air in your mouth and puff spit it out quickly! Shen Jinyi demonstrated, trying to teach Chi Xulong. I get it, just a puff,'' Chi Xulong said, somewhat impatiently. No, no, youre puckering your lips too little, like this. Like this? Lu Yang, standing outside the cell, watched Chi Xulong and Shen Jinyi puckering their lips at each other, pondering whether to intervene, as their actions could easily be misinterpreted. He decided to record it with a recording sphere first. (End of the chapter) Chapter 82: Truthful Report Chapter 82: Truthful Report Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii (TL Note: Im changing Laurel Immortal Pce -> Moon Laurel Immortal Pce) Long time no see, Ivee to deliver food, Lu Yang greeted warmly, a skill honed from working at the barbecue shop. After over a month of practice, Lu Yangs fake smile had reached a level of deception so convincing that even Meng Jingzhouplimented it as genuine. Chi Xulong, who had been pouting, turned around sharply at the sound of Lu Yangs voice, his gaze filled with hostility. If it werent for you inviting the officers over for a meal, we wouldnt be in this mess. Why are you here? Chi Xulong asked aggressively. From their first encounter, where Lu Yang tricked him by pretending to be an examiner, to setting him up during the meal, Lu Yang had always been up to no good. Now, his offer of food surely had an ulterior motive. Compared to his own ruthless history as a killer, Chi Xulong found Lu Yang even more despicable. Lu Yang had no intention of teasing Chi Xulong in prison; they needed to support each other in the future, and there was no point in souring their rtionship furthera sentiment shared by the helmsman. However, Lu Yang misheard Chi Xulongs question about bing an overseer: What, how did you know I got promoted to overseer? But dont get too excited; you could be one too if you behave well. Surprised by Chi Xulongs well-informed state, Lu Yang unted his waist badge, the title of overseer prominently disyed. Chi Xulong was furious, Heaven must be blind! Lu Yang tried to console him, Dont be angry. The helmsman also had a message for you. Upon hearing it was from Helmsman Chu, Chi Xulong calmed down somewhat, hoping the sect leader still valued him. What did he say? He said it would be best for you to bond with me. Chi Xulong erupted in anger, incredulous that the sect leader favored Lu Yang: Id rather die than get along with you! Seeing Chi Xulongs outright defiance of the helmsmans wishes, Lu Yang sighed and left some food behind before leaving. The prisoners drooled over the scent of the food, unable to enjoy such delicacies in their confinement. Lu Yang was much kinder to the others, encouraging them to reform while in prison and contribute to the Central Continent upon their release, showing genuine concern. To outsiders, it seemed they were destined for a long stint in jail. After leaving the prison, Lu Yang reported to Helmsman Chu: I visited Chi Xulong with food, trying to clear up any misunderstandings. Were all in this together and need to get along for future endeavors. I emphasized this was your wish, mentioning that good behavior could earn him an overseer position like mine. But Chi Xulongshed out, cursing, saying something about the person who allowed me to be an overseer being blind. He said hed rather die than associate with me. I cant recall his exact words, but that was the gist. Chu Duemains expression turned cold: He said what about being blind? Lu Yang, bowing deeply with a cautious lift of his head, responded with evident fear, The person he mentioned holds too high a status; its a grave disrespect, and I dare not repeat it. Chu Zedao seemed to understand without further exnation, Alright, I got it. You can go now. Lu Yang sighed internally, thinking to himself how recklessly Chi Xulong spoke his mind, Please dont say I was the one who mentioned this; maybe I misremembered, he cautiously added, trying to mitigate the potential fallout. Helmsman Chu waved him off, understanding the delicacy of the situation. After Lu Yang left, Helmsman Chu pondered, irked by Chi Xulongs remarks about blindness. The day went on as usual: Meng Jingzhou went shopping, Barbarian Bone exercised in the backyard, spectres prepared skewers, and Lu Yang didundry. Lu Yangs ordinary clothes remained stained despite his efforts. Damn it, why cant I master the Clean Clothing Spell? he grumbled, vigorously scrubbing his clothes. He envied his friends ability to avoidundry, nning to buy self-cleaning clothes once affluent. A while ago, Lu Yang sought Meng Jingzhous help to learn a spell that cleans his clothes. Meng Jingzhou didnt know one himself, but he had a book titled Minor Magic Spells for Everyday Life, sneakily given to him by his sister before he left. The book contained a spell known as the Clean Clothes Spell. True to its name, this spell could make clothes clean, and it was easy to learn. The three of them gathered to study together. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone learned it first. As a refreshing aura descended from the sky, their initially dirty clothes instantly turned snow-white, as if brand new. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were both delighted. Working at the barbecue shop, their clothes would easily get dirty, which was very inconvenient. Given Meng Jingzhous status, he naturally possessed clothes that had been refined into magical artifacts. These clothes, which remained clean without needing to be washed, were of such high quality that anyone could tell at a nce that he came from a background of profound resources, which would not be advantageous for hiding within the demonic cult. Lu Yang, known for his exceptional talent in magic, also managed to learn the spell, but the oue was unexpectedly different. After he cast the Clean Clothes Spell, the space twisted momentarily, and brand new clothes appeared out of nowhere. Lu Yang was silent for a long time, wanting to curse but unsure where to start. Chronologically, this was the first space-rted spell that Lu Yang had mastered, marking a significant milestone. In terms of innovation, it was a creative take on the Clean Clothes Spell, essentially inventing a new space magic spell. Logically, it made no sense. Lu Yang, seeing a tag on the cor that said for person xxxxx, realized that this clothing was likely made by a tailor and had not yet been collected by its owner, summoned by his space magic spell. Why did my Clean Clothes Spell directly summon a new piece of clothing? What would happen if I cast a Clean Body Spell? Lu Yang raged, feeling as though the heavens were deliberately limiting his magical talent because of his overflowing brilliance. Of course, he couldnt wear these clothes since they belonged to someone else, but Lu Yang didnt know who the owner was, making it impossible to return them. Meng Jingzhou even kindly offered to use a genuine Clean Clothes Spell to wash Lu Yangs clothes, but after several attempts, they ended in failure. The Clean Clothes Spell could only clean the clothes worn by the caster, making it impossible for Lu Yang to take off his clothes for Meng Jingzhou to wash, only for Meng Jingzhou to then take them off again to return them to Lu Yang. Having no other options, Lu Yang resigned himself to washing his clothes. After washing, Lu Yang attempted to hang the clothes outside the window, but the clothesline identally slipped from his hands, almost hitting a passerby below. Watch out! Unexpectedly, the passerby exhibited remarkable agility, deftly dodging the falling clothesline. Rushing downstairs, Lu Yang recognized the passerby as a new acquaintance, Lan Ting from the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, who had helped him fight a tiger in Song Mountain over a month ago. He wondered why she was still here. Lan Ting looked down at the clothesline on the ground, her brows furrowed in thought, as if pondering a question. Curious, Lu Yang asked, What are you thinking about? Without hesitation, Lan Ting replied, I was wondering why the clothesline fell to the ground instead of upwards. Could there be an invisible force pulling everything in the world? Lu Yang was speechless. (End of the chapter) Chapter 83: Lan Ting's Secret Mission Chapter 83: Lan Tings Secret Mission Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii As they stood to the side, Lu Yang quipped, This invisible force is everywhere, why not call it gravity? Lan Ting recognized the voice and looked up to see Lu Yang: Oh, its you. Lets talk inside. Lu Yang worried Lan Ting might reveal his true identity. With her stunning appearance, Lan Ting standing at the door was very eye-catching, making it easy for eavesdroppers to overhear their conversation. Once inside, Lan Ting noticed the ghosts busily skewering meat and realized they were the remnants left by the tiger demon. The two spectres, seeing Lu Yang and Lan Ting walk in together, silently picked up their meat trays and skewers and continued their work at a table in the corner. Their skilled movements led Lan Ting to wonder if this had been their job in life. Barbarian Bone, hearing the noise from the backyard, stopped his training and came to the hall. Meng Jingzhou, after a day of wandering, entered the door eximing, Have you heard? Yanjiang County has its own festival called the Spring Harvest Festival, just half a month away. It involves spring outings, mountain excursions, water y, and a poetry event at night with recitations and music, quite lively. People from nearby counties alle here. Locals in Yanjiang County even get a three-day holiday. I also heard that the brothels hike their prices during those days, making a fortune. Should we take this opportunity to have a big promotion to celebrate two months of opening our shop? Meng Jingzhou proved that his day out wasnt just for fun; he was also gathering information, although it wasnt particrly helpful for the three of them. Barbarian Bones eyes lit up, ready to speak, but then he saw Lu Yangs impassive gaze and silently shut his mouth. Meng Jingzhou, noticing Lan Ting, was also surprised: I remember you, youre Lan Ting from the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce? For over a month, they had stayed here, ah, not correct, to infiltrate the demonic cult, they hadnt left. What was Lan Ting doing here all this time? Indeed, its me, Lan Ting replied softly. Lan Ting also found Lu Yang and his friends interesting. She had been in Yanjiang County for over a month and had heard of this barbecue shop. However, being someone who preferred quiet, she hadnt visited noisy ces and only realized today that this shop was run by acquaintances, even disciples of a celestial sect. It seemed these three were sincerely working on a big project in Yanjiang County. Could it be that the tasks assigned by the Dao Seeking Sect included not just exorcizing demons but also starting a business to make money? Considering the sects reputation, it wasnt impossible. Lan Ting had heard from her sisters that the reward system in the Dao Seeking Sect even included a Day as the Sect Master experience, something the other four celestial sects didnt offer. Staying in Yanjiang County for so long, are you on a mission? If you need help, just ask. We have well-connected bailiffs here, and we know people in the jail, Lu Yang offered warmly. As members of the five major celestial sects, they should support each other. Now, Lu Yang and his friends had enough clout in Yanjiang County to cover the sky with one hand, ostensibly as helpful residents who had assisted the bailiffs in catching criminals. The bailiffs often dined here, and secretly, they were valued members of the Yanjiang subsect of the demonic cult, their true identities being core disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect. In terms of background, who couldpete with them? Lan Ting was silent. She was on a secret mission and was not supposed to interact with outsiders; otherwise, she wouldnt have just symbolically taken two tiger skins and left after helping Lu Yang with the tiger. A month had passed with no progress, and she was anxious. The three men before her presented an opportunity that might help her. Lan Ting paused for a moment, took two deep breaths, steadied her breathing, and said solemnly to the three people: This humble girl is on a secret mission. You must not spread the words I speak today, as they concern my safety! Do not be surprised after you hear them! (TL Note: The I here is a humble and traditional way of referring to oneself, which trantes to this humble girl or this little girl in English, reflecting a modest self-address. This term is often used in historical or period contexts to denote humility and sometimes lower social status. Its used a few times in the next few chapters but tranting it to this humble girl every time will make the trantion weird) Seeing Lan Tings seriousness, they straightened up. I am to infiltrate the Evesting Sect as an undercover agent! The three blinked in unison, thinking they had misheard. Lan Ting continued, This is reliable information obtained through special channels by our Moon Laurel Immortal Pce. Recently, the four major demonic sects n to recruit followers en masse. The Sr Cult has alreadypleted its recruitment, and the other three are in the process. There is a branch of the Evesting Sect in Yanjiang County, called the Yanjiang Rudder. Its leader is mysterious and unidentified; no one even knows his surname. The Yanjiang Rudder ranks rtively low among all branches of the Evesting Sect, with members generally having lower cultivation levels, making it suitable for someone at the Foundation Establishment stage like me to infiltrate. If nned properly, its possible to mix into the higher ranks of the Yanjiang Subsect. My sisters are too well-known for their high cultivation levels and prominent reputations in the outside world, making it difficult for them to infiltrate. After discussion, the task fell to me. When Lan Ting mentioned her sisters fame, she was referring to their beauty which had made appearances in some forbidden books, satisfying some mens fantasies. Sighing, Lan Ting admitted, However, Ive been in Yanjiang County for over a month without finding the location of the Yanjiang Rudder or knowing if the recruitment has ended. I hope its not toote! Lan Ting looked at the three with hopeful eyes, especially at Lu Yang, whom she found very reliable, hoping they could offer assistance. Silently, the trio pulled out the badges given by the subsect leader, with the words Deputy Leader prominently disyed. Sorry, were already with the Evesting Sect. Lan Ting was shocked. Oh, dont be nervous. What we mean is weve sessfully infiltrated the Evesting Sect, Lu Yang added. Relieved, Lan Ting thought they had defected, but then realized something was amiss. How did you enter the Evesting Sect? Lu Yang found it difficult to exin. They had simply participated in the trials and sessfully passed. Proudly, Meng Jingzhou stated, We performed exceptionally during the recruitment, and the Evesting Sect saw us as very fitting to join, so they chose us. Barbarian Bone didnt understand what Meng Jingzhou was proud of. Lu Yang exined inymans terms how they found Qin Yuanhaos letter in the tiger demonsir, located Qin Yuanhao, and learned about the recruitment and the location of the Yanjiang Subsect. Regretting not acting alongside Lu Yang from the start, Lan Tingmented the wasted month, having not even found the entrance to the Yanjiang Subsect while others had risen to its higher ranks. Perhaps, like Qin Yuanhao, you can recruit ordinary followers. Can you bring me in? Lan Ting asked. Lu Yang shook his head, Ordinary followers dont have ess to the Evesting Sects secrets. Frankly, I doubt you could pass their tests, and the risk of blowing your cover is quite high. Disappointed, Lan Ting lowered her gaze. Lu Yang then suggested, However, we could forge an identity for you, saying youre a distant rtiveing to seek refuge. You can pretend to work at our barbecue shop while supporting us on the side, fulfilling part of your mission. Really? Lan Ting hadnt expected such a favorable turn. Barbarian Bone was surprised the barbecue shop was finally hiring new staff. Lu Yang nodded, Of course, your Foundation Establishment stage strength is a significant asset to us. Just, youre too conspicuous; you might need to disguise yourself. Can you transform? If not, I can teach you. (End of the chapter) Chapter 84: The Tofu Shop on Qianmen Street Chapter 84: The Tofu Shop on Qianmen Street Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Upon witnessing Lu Yangs Shape-Imitating Fist, which transformed him into the spitting image of Barbarian Bone, Lan Ting silently took out a yellow talisman paper. Its better to draw a transformation talisman myself. This is indeed a sect famous for its ingenuity and spells, disguising through martial arts as a form of transformation. Such an act requires a profound understanding of spells to achieve. It seems Lu Yang has reached the realm of understanding beyond the superficialyers of spells, directly grasping their essence. Among their peers, Lan Ting believed no one surpassed Lu Yang in spell mastery. Lu Yang then remembered that Lan Ting had also intended to use tiger skins for talisman crafting, indicating her proficiency in the field of talisman drawing. Pointing to her eyes, Lan Ting said, My eyes are somewhat unique, sensitive to patterns, able to discern the core of talismans and the critical points of formations naturally. I excel in drawing talismans and setting up formations. However, my focus is mainly on talisman crafting; my knowledge of formations is only superficial. Lan Tings modesty belied her exceptional talent, a gift that would undoubtedly take her far in the realms of talismans and formations, envied by many masters in those fields. Soon after, Lan Tingpleted a transformation talisman, applied it to herself, and her stunning beauty was reced by an ordinary appearance, a truly miraculous change. Thus, the barbecue shop weed a new staff member. Two days after Lan Ting joined the barbecue shop, the business was as busy as ever. With a new staff member on board, the workload for the trio lightened. Lu Yang noticed Barbarian Bone seemed unhappy, so while serving customers, he asked telepathically, Whats wrong? You seem a bit down. Barbarian Bone nodded, Not sure if youve noticed, but our customer numbers have dropped these past few days. Ive calcted our earnings, and its indeed the case. Lu Yang was surprised, having not noticed this trend: Because of Lan Ting? Typically, adding a female staff member would boost business. No, it started before Lan Ting arrived. I cant figure out why. Something must be wrong, Barbarian Bone pondered. Lu Yang wasnt concerned, preferring less business for the barbecue shop: Well, think it over, Im off to deliver food. A month prior, on Meng Jingzhous suggestion, the shop started offering delivery services. A box was ced at the shops entrance during the day for customers to drop in their orders, including what they wanted, delivery time, and address. The trio took turns delivering in the evening. Tonight was Lu Yangs turn. Having not ventured out at night recently, Lu Yang noticed fewer pedestrians on the streetspared to before. Perhaps this was why the shops customer flow had decreased, he mused. Lets see where Im delivering to this time The tofu shop on Qianmen Street? Wen Xiangyu had long heard about the popr barbecue shop nearby and was eager to taste it, wondering if it lived up to its reputation. However, since her husbands death and inheriting his tofu shop, she rarely went out at night. Not boasting about herself, but Wen Xiangyu, known for her fair skin and beauty, has been coveted by many. Going out alone at night would be very dangerous for her. Later, when she heard about the barbecue shop offering delivery service, she wrote down her order on a piece of paper and dropped it into the shops box outside. These past few days, she felt unusually tired, even more so today. Before the skewers were delivered, she couldnt resist the drowsiness and went to bed early. The barbecue shops staff should be able to wake her up. Lu Zhi has recently been a headache for the local constables, a thief who sneaks into homes at night, stealing valuables while the inhabitants are asleep, and leaves without a trace. When the constables questioned the neighbors, they too imed to have slept too deeply to notice any disturbances. He set his sights on the tofu shop on Qianmen Street this time. The shops owner, a famously beautiful widow whose tofu is renowned far and wide, has made quite a fortune over the years, making her the envy of neighboring shops. Lu Zhi, agile as a monkey, silently climbed to the rooftop and twisted his body to open a second-floor window. She should be asleep by now. Confident in his skills, Lu Zhi had recently acquired a yellow paper talisman that induces deep sleep. ced outside the house, it affects everyone within a fifty-meter radius, causing them to sleep soundly. This tactic has never failed him. Tiptoeing and holding his breath, Lu Zhi saw the beautiful woman lying in bed and smiled smugly, believing his n was sessful. Then, he turned to search the cab for valuables, as his experience told him women often keep their treasures there. Nothing? Frowning, Lu Zhi turned his gaze back towards the tofu shop owners bed. If it wasnt here, then it must be under the bed. He carefully crouched down, reaching under the bed, his heart skipping a beat. There was a face under the bed! Ghost! Zheng Shouhe has been troubling the constables as a serial rapist, often hiding under the beds of single women, waiting for the night to vite them. Sometimes, he encounters women having affairs, in which case he could only hide under the bed and wait it out. His target this time was the tofu shop on Qianmen Street, whose owner is a famously beautiful widow who has captivated many souls. Like before, Zheng Shouhe hid under the bed early, waiting for the night to have his way with the tofu shop owner. So sleepy. Zheng Shouhe had never felt as drowsy as he did today; usually, the longer he waited, the more alert he became. Today, however, he couldnt shake the sleepiness and eventually fell asleep. A scream woke him up, something about a ghost. Zheng Shouhe suddenly opened his eyes to find Lu Zhi lying under the bed, staring at him in terror. He quickly covered Lu Zhis mouth, crawled out from under the bed, and pulled out a dagger, pressing it against Lu Zhis neck. Zheng Shouhe also saw Wen Xiangyu on the bed, trembling with fear. Evidently, Wen Xiangyu was also awakened by Lu Zhis scream. What a cursed day! Cursing, Zheng Shouhe found some rope, tied up Lu Zhi, nning to enjoy Wen Xiangyu before killing them both. Then, there was a knock from downstairs. Anyone home? Im here to deliver the order. Zheng Shouhe clicked his tongue,menting his bad luck. He tied up Lu Zhi and forced Wen Xiangyu toe downstairs with him. Threatening Wen Xiangyu with the dagger, he whispered, Make the person outside go away! Everyone in Qianmen Street knew the tofu shops beautiful widow lived alone. If he let the person outside leave hearing a mans voice, it would surely raise suspicions. Just leave the food at the door, Ille out and get it, Wen Xiangyu called out in a soft voice. That wont do, you havent paid yet, the person outside responded. Zheng Shouhes face turned grim, thinking if youre seeking death, dont me others! (End of the chapter) Chapter 85: The Life-Draining Talisman Chapter 85: The Life-Draining Talisman Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Open the door! Zheng Shouhe pressed the dagger against Wen Xiangyus back. Wen Xiangyu had no choice but to open the door. Upon opening the door, a handsome face appearedit was Lu Yang. Wen Xiangyu desperately signaled to Lu Yang to run away quickly, but Lu Yang, as if he hadnt seen her signals, showed a professional fake smile, Heres your skewer. Zheng Shouhe also put on a professional fake smile, easily deceiving the seemingly naive Lu Yang, Young man,e in and sit, Ill get you the money. Believing him, Lu Yang entered,menting on the pitch-dark room, Not even a light on, sleeping so early. Seeing Lu Yang naively walk in, Wen Xiangyu was panicked. She braced herself, ready to push Lu Yang out. Zheng Shouhe, noticing Wen Xiangyus unusual behavior, was toote. He coldlyughed, threw Wen Xiangyu behind him, and stabbed towards Lu Yang in the dark. ustomed to the darkness, Zheng Shouhe expected Lu Yang,ing from the brightly lit street, would need time to adjust to the dark. This was his chance! Seemingly destined to be a bloody night, Lu Yang kicked Zheng Shouhe four to five meters away. So much for talking science with a cultivator. Unexpectedly for Zheng Shouhe, Lu Yangs kick was too heavy and solid, like a boulder smashing into his chest, causing him to see stars, break several ribs, and cough up arge amount of blood! Realizing he was in serious trouble and needing a hostage to survive, Zheng Shouhe forcibly suppressed the pain in his chest, attempting to grab Wen Xiangyus wrist. If you dare to move again, Ill kill her! Zheng Shouhe threatened menacingly. The person in Zheng Shouhes arms coldlyughed, Who are you nning to kill? Zheng Shouhe looked down in horror to find he hadnt grabbed Wen Xiangyu, but Lu Yang! Lu Yang, with one palm on Zheng Shouhes chin and snatching the dagger with the other hand, easily disarmed and dismembered Zheng Shouhe. What luck, encountering so much trouble just delivering a skewer. Lu Yang sighed, lit a candle, and the room was faintly illuminated. Wen Xiangyu couldnt believe how quickly the situation had turned; the skewer delivery boy was like a god descending to earth, swiftly subduing the fierce criminal. Are you alright? Lu Yang helped Wen Xiangyu, who was sitting dazed on the ground. No, no problem. Thats good, then. Pay for the skewers, please. Lu Yang politely said. Ah? Oh right. Wen Xiangyu then remembered Lu Yang came to deliver the skewers and incidentally saved her. After paying Lu Yang, Wen Xiangyu was ovee with fear and tried to say something to ease her nerves, You, youre a cultivator? Yes. Cultivators run stores too? For living. Lying on the ground, groaning in pain, Zheng Shouhe regretted everything, wondering what bad luck it was to encounter a cultivator. Are cultivators now reduced to delivering skewers to make a living? Lu Yang watched Wen Xiangyu with a look of one who had narrowly escaped disaster and chuckled, shaking his head, Let me apany you to report this. Thank you, Wen Xiangyu remembered the thief upstairs, Oh right, theres another person upstairs, probably his aplice. Wen Xiangyu, upon waking, saw Zheng Shouhe and Lu Zhi together, assuming they were coborating but had fallen out over her beauty. Lu Yang went upstairs and, finding Lu Zhi securely tied up, assumed he was Zheng Shouhes aplice: So, its a group crime. Lu Zhi protested, Dont lump me in with him; Im a thief, hes a kidnapper, our crimes and punishments arent the same! Lu Yangughed, You seem quite knowledgeable about thew. We check thews before we act to see how many years we might get, Lu Zhi exined, evidently experienced. Then lets go to the magistrate office and see how many years youll get. Hearing they were heading to the magistrate office, Lu Zhi quickly begged for mercy, Wait, wait, wait, brother, lets talk this out. Were all hustling in the same world, why the harshness? Look, Ill give you something valuable if you let me go. How about it? Lu Yang, assessing Lu Zhi as merely a mortal, asked, What valuable thing? A yellow paper that can put people to sleep. With this paper, whoever you want to sleep will sleep, and you can do whatever you want to them! Connecting this to the recent oddities, Lu Yang furrowed his brows, sensing aplicated issue, and demanded coldly, Where is it? Lu Zhi wasnt foolish enough to just reveal, Promise to let me go first! Lu Yang solemnly swore, I, Chu Xulong, swear by the heavens, if I dont let you go, may I be struck by five thunderbolts! Overjoyed, Lu Zhi revealed, The yellow paper is in a corner outside the first floor. Clearly, Lu Zhi wasnt the brightest. Lu Yang jumped down from the second floor and found the yellow paper after circling the building. The paper was inscribed with symbols Lu Yang couldnt understand, appearing to be some kind of talisman. After securing the talisman, he returned upstairs, Where did you get this? Under the big stone bridge. I was escaping by boat once and happened to look up to see a piece of yellow paper there. Nodding, Lu Yang went downstairs to collect Zheng Shouhes legs and took both men to the magistrate office, with Wen Xiangyu following closely. Hey, hey, hey, youre not keeping your word! Lu Zhi shouted. Lu Yang sneered coldly, The one to be struck by lightning is Chu Xulong, what does that have to do with me, Lu Yang? Coincidentally, Constable Wei was on duty that night. Seeing Lu Yang bringing in two criminals to the magistrate office elicited a Its you again feeling from him. After hearing the criminals stories, Constable Wei became serious. Zheng Shouhe, havingmitted homicide, was a severe criminal, marking a significant achievement for Lu Yang. This is the yellow paper Lu Zhi mentioned. Lu Yang handed the paper to Constable Wei, who also realized its significance. He had heard of people feeling unusually sleepy during the day but hadnt thought much of it. Now, it seemed someone was deliberately causing trouble. The region might be hiding countless such papers! However, Constable Wei didnt understand the symbols on the paper. He decided to wait for the chief officer to start his shift in the morning and consult him. Thanks a lot. Ill send you anothermendation banner tomorrow, Constable Wei said to Lu Yang and Wen Xiangyu afterpleting their statements and bid them farewell. Before leaving, Lu Yang made a trip to the jail to speak with Chu Xulong, Ive got a brother named Zheng Shouheing in for a while, please take care of him. Chu Xulong sneered, ready to show Zheng Shouhe the extent of his stone-spitting skills. After escorting Wen Xiangyu back to her tofu shop, Lu Yang firmly declined her offer of tofu. After such an ordeal, the barbecue shop had already closed for the night. Upon his return, Lu Yang found the two ghostly workers washing dishes. Lu Yang showed the symbols from the yellow paper to Lan Ting, Can you look at this talisman? Does it cause people to fall asleep? After carefully examining it, Lan Ting expressed surprise, Where did you find this? Its a Life-Draining Talisman. It absorbs peoples lifespan, and those affected disy lethargy and an overwhelming desire to sleep. This talisman only affects mortals and has no effect on cultivators. (End of the chapter) Chapter 86: The Undercover Agent Hidden Within the Government Chapter 86: The Undercover Agent Hidden Within the Government Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Now many people are showing symptoms of excessive sleepiness. Could it be that the Life-Draining Talisman has already started to absorb the lifespan of ordinary people? Lan Ting shook her head: Not exactly. Lifespan is the foundation of life and is not so easily shaken. ording to your description, people have only started showing signs of sleepiness in the past few days. This is just the beginning. It will take at least half a month before the actual absorption of lifespan starts. The process of formally absorbing lifespan is extremely long and difficult to detect. However, there is a method to forcibly activate the Life-Draining Talisman. What method? Lu Yang pressed. Lan Ting seriously exined: By using the Life-Draining Talisman as nodes to form a Life-Draining Array and using human blood as a catalyst, theres no need to wait for half a month. The array can be activated immediately, using the lifespan of mortals to enhance ones own cultivation! In fact, the knowledge of the Life-Draining Talisman and Life-Draining Array is quite obscure, only mentioned in a few books. Since the Life-Draining Talisman is outrightly considered dark and forbidden, the books mentioning it are banned. Even those well-versed in arrays might only have heard of the name of the Life-Draining Talisman and not recognize its pattern. Its only because Lan Tinges from the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce that she has ess to these forbidden texts. She modestly ims not to have a deep understanding of arrays, but the knowledge she has shown is far beyond mere modest understanding. Lan Ting added: However, the person who wrote the Life-Draining Talisman likely doesnt know how to set up the Life-Draining Array. Before the array is activated, there wouldnt even be signs of sleepiness, making it even more secretive. However, its also possible that the Life-Draining Array is currently being set up and not yetplete. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, listening on the side, also realized the gravity of the situation. If everyone in Yanjiang County is showing signs of sleepiness, it means the Life-Draining Talismans are hidden all over Yanjiang County! The person acting in the shadows has grand schemes! After the Life-Draining Array is activated, to what realm can the practitioner be elevated? Lan Ting shook her head: Its hard to say, it depends on how much lifespan the array can absorb. We cant see it right now. Lets go to the Great Stone Bridge and have a look. There might be more there! Lu Yang called the trio. To the west of Yanjiang County flows arge river known as Hidden Dragon River. The section of the river flowing through Yanjiang County is calm, often frequented by visitors, making it a distinctive attraction of Yanjiang County. The name Yanjiang itself derives from this river. The Great Stone Bridge mentioned by Lu Zhi, the thwarted burr, is located here. At thiste hour, not a soul was on the Hidden Dragon River. The four made their way to the Great Stone Bridge, searching thoroughly but finding no new Life-Draining Talismans. Indeed, our adversary isnt foolish enough to ce two Life-Draining Talismans in the same location. The next morning, Constable Wei sought out the Chief Officer Fang Qingyun. Whats the matter, Xiao Wei? Master, have you noticed that recently, the people of Yanjiang County tend to sleep early and struggle to wake up in the morning? Fang Qingyun nodded: Yes, I thought it might be because the cost of living in Yanjiang County has increased, but ies havent, leading to significant life stress for the popce, who work hard during the day to make ends meet. Constable Wei rubbed his temples in frustration, choosing his words carefully: Master, I know you aspire to be promoted and have been reading socio-economic bookstely toy a good foundation for your future promotion. But have you ever considered that youre simply not cut out for development? Just spit it out! Well,st night, a concerned citizen captured a burr attempting to break into a house. ording to the burr, he identally acquired a piece of yellow paper that can induce sleep, affecting people within a fifty-meter radius to feel drowsy. Constable Wei took out the talisman from a box sealed with a talisman that nullifies its effects. He discovered that the sleep-inducing talisman had no effect on him but worked excellently on ordinary people, putting everyone on the night shift to sleep. He had no choice but to lock the talisman in the box. Do you recognize this thing? Fang Qingyun examined it for a moment and shook his head, indicating he did not recognize it: Prefect Li has seen much and knows a lot, perhaps he might recognize it. When they found Prefect Li, he was engrossed in handling official duties. Both men admired Prefect Li greatly. As a Golden Core cultivator who had been in Yanjiang County for twenty years, Yanjiang County remained unchanged under his rule. However, whenever superiors inspected Yanjiang County or Prefect Li reported to his superiors, Yanjiang County always showed its best side, as if it had undergone earth-shattering changes over the twenty years. Prefect Li, I have a report to make! Fang Qingyun said. Prefect Li set down his brush and gestured for them to sit and talk. Constable Wei reportedst nights incident truthfully and presented the talisman for Prefect Li to examine. Prefect Li squinted, let out a light exmation as if remembering something, and fell into thought. After a few minutes, he said, If my memory serves me correctly, is this a Life-Draining Talisman? Thirty years ago, when I was in charge ofbating demonic practices in Poyang Prefecture and exchanging experiences with colleagues from other prefectures, one of them introduced me to this type of talisman, saying it was a Life-Draining Talisman that could absorb human lifespan and convert it into cultivation. It is undeniably a demonic method. Prefect Li solemnly said, With the Spring Harvest Festival approaching, there will be arge influx of people from other prefectures and counties visiting, including both ordinary people and cultivators. The Spring Harvest Festival is our most prominent event in Yanjiang County; we cannot afford any mishaps. You must catch the demonic culprits behind these talismans before the festival begins! These demonic culprits are utterlywless, showing no regard for the court! Chief Officer Fang, you must take this matter very seriously. If the Life-Draining Talisman bes widespread, it will have endless repercussions! Then Prefect Li changed his tone: Of course, if you catch the mastermind behind this, it will be a great achievement. I will report it to the higher-ups. If possible, you should try to have a breakthrough in your cultivation. That way, your promotion is guaranteed. Yes! If theres nothing else, you may leave. I have another meeting soon. The next day, Lu Yang and the others wanted to continue searching for the location of the Life-Draining Talismans based on clues. Before they could leave, the Helmsman Chu sent someone to call Lu Yang over. Lu Yang didnt understand why Helmsman Chu only called for him. He was on alert, sensing something unusual. Helmsman Chu, sitting on a jade chair, supporting his head with his palm and wearing a mask, spoke in a hoarse voice: I heard you caught a thiefst night and found a yellow talisman that induces sleep? Lu Yang respectfully replied, Yes, I suspect the yellow talisman is a method used by our demonic path. I intend to find the person who wrote the talisman, kill and plunder them, and learn the skill to draw such talismans! Helmsman Chu waved his hand: While its necessary to maintain good rtions in front of the officials, this time is different. This incident will be thoroughly investigated by the government, and with Golden Core cultivators getting involved, the truth will soon emerge. You should not interfere any further to avoid exposing your identity and getting yourself involved. Its just a talisman that induces sleep, not worth the risk. Lu Yang was shocked. Helmsman Chu knew aboutst nights incident by this morning and even knew that a Golden Core cultivator would get involved, something even he was unaware of. Helmsman Chu has nted an undercover agent within the government! (End of the chapter) Chapter 87: Learning the Invisibility Talisman Chapter 87: Learning the Invisibility Talisman Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii When they first arrived in Yanjiang County, Barbarian Bone had suggested informing the local authorities about the affairs of the Yanjiang Rudder and coborating to search for Qin Yuanhao, a proposal that was rejected by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou on the grounds that the authorities could not be trusted. Now, it appears their concerns were not unfounded. The Yanjiang Helmsman had nted an undercover agent within the government, and not of a low rank! Helmsman Chu said slowly, Lu Yang, among the high ranks of the Yanjiang Rudder, you are the one I have the highest hopes for. After the Spring Harvest Festival, the higher-ups will send someone to inspect the Yanjiang Rudder. This inspection is different from the past because this time, with you, Meng Jingzhou, and Barbarian Bone, three demonic seedlings among us, the higher-ups evaluation of me will significantly improve. I have a great chance of being promoted, which would leave the position of helmsman vacant. ording to tradition, the new helmsman will be chosen from among the high ranks of our own group. Although you are rtively junior, considering the Sect Leaders evaluation of you, its not impossible for the higher-ups to appoint you as the new helmsman. Yourpetitors are currently still locked up in jail and wont be released until three dayster. Such foolish acts wont be highly regarded by the higher-ups. The Spring Harvest Festival is a major festival for the nearby counties and has a significant impact. If you stir up some trouble during this festival, the higher-ups will think highly of you. Helmsman Chu hinted at Lu Yang with an almost imperceptible suggestion. After rying Helmsman Chus words to Meng Jingzhou and others, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were d they had chosen to cause trouble for Qin Yuanhao instead of seeking help from the authorities. Otherwise, there wouldnt be such a thriving barbecue shop. Lu Yang felt that their focus might be somewhat misced. The question is who exactly is the undercover agent Helmsman Chu has ced. All four were troubled, as they did not know who in the government would have the authority to know about the yellow talisman. Dont worry, once you be the helmsman, youll know who the undercover agent is. Helmsman Chu values you so highly, hell definitely tell you before he leaves! Meng Jingzhouughed heartily, surprised that Lu Yang was being promoted so quickly. If Lu Yang got promoted, he and Barbarian Bone could wreak havoc in Yanjiang County as they pleased. Having someone to cover for them was indeed beneficial. While the four were discussing animatedly, Constable Wei knocked on the door. Shopkeeper Lu, Ive brought you another banner ofmendation. Lu Yang weed Constable Wei warmly into the shop. Oh, everyones here, quite lively. Constable Wei remarked offhandedly. We were just discussing yesterdays case. Hearing Lu Yang say this, Constable Wei solemnly warned, Shopkeeper Lu, you must keepst nights case confidential and not discuss it with anyone else. I know you all are not ordinary people, but cultivators here to experience life, sometimes acting heroically. But this time is different. This case involves a ruthless demonic cultivator; the slightest carelessness could be life-threatening. You must not seek out the owner of the talisman. Lu Yang couldnt help butugh. The demonic path advised him not to get involved in this matter, and now the righteous path was doing the same. Dontugh; this is a very serious matter! Constable Wei thought Lu Yang wasnt taking the matter seriously. Lu Yang promised solemnly that he would not get involved in this matter, which reassured Constable Wei enough to leave. Have some tea before you go. Constable Wei waved his hand, No, the leadership is urging me on. I still need to lead a team to search for other talismans. After sending Constable Wei off, Lu Yang and the others were worried that the government forces might not be sufficient to catch the person lurking in the shadows. If anything went wrong, who knows how many peoples lifespans would be secretly stolen. Lu Yang pondered deeply, We have already learned the method of concealing our aura, but simply using the method of concealing our aura might not be safe. He looked up at Lan Ting, who was learning how to skewer with the ghostly workers, and had an idea. Fellow Daoist Lan Ting, I have a favor to ask of you. Lan Tingughed and said, We are all disciples of the Immortal Sects, working together to y demons and eliminate evil. Im currently under yourmand, so theres no need to be so formal. Just call me Lan Ting. Lu Yang readily agreed: Lan Ting, could you teach us the invisibility talisman? Lan Ting understood Lu Yangs intention: You mean to use the invisibility talisman to hide and secretly assist Constable Wei? Lu Yang nodded. Of course, theres no problem. The invisibility talisman isnt too difficult a talisman to master. As long as the talent isnt too poor, it can be learned in half a day. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, hearing that they could learn something new and that it wasnt Lu Yang teaching them, were very excited. Have you three learned talismans before? The three shook their heads in unison. Lan Ting wasnt surprised: Then Ill teach you from the beginning. Lan Ting was also excited; this was the first time she was teaching others. Back in the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, it was always her senior sisters teaching her, and now it was finally her turn to be the teacher. The essence of talismans is to materialize spells in the form of drawings on paper. The three of youe from the Dao Seeking Sect, so your talents in spells are not bad, making it easy for you to learn. The talismans core is the soul of a talisman order. Whether a talisman can fully exert its effectsrgely depends on whether there is a talismans core embedded within it The mostmonly used pattern in talismans is the cloud talisman, which is created by imitating the changing shapes of clouds in the sky, drawn from nature Specifically for the invisibility talisman, it uses the tail of the Big Dipper as the talismans core, with the ethereal standard cloud talisman as the pattern. Lan Ting dipped her fingertips in some clear water and, with a few swift strokes, drew an invisibility talisman on the table. With a suction from her palm, the invisibility talisman detached from the table and adhered to her hand. Lan Ting pped it onto herself and disappeared from the eager gaze of the three. A few momentster, Lan Ting reappeared, smiling lightly: This is the most basic invisibility talisman, which only hides the body from sight. You should be able to detect my presence through details like breathing and heartbeat. The three nodded, acknowledging that even so, it was quite impressive. Give it a try. After half a day of learning, the three gained a preliminary understanding of talismans and began attempting to write the invisibility talisman with the Four Treasures of the Study, not yet able to draw with water as the medium. (TL Note: Four Treasures of the Study is an expression used to denote the brush, ink, paper and ink stone used in Chinese calligraphy and spread into other East Asian calligraphic traditions.) Meng Jingzhou, who practiced calligraphy regrly, had a steady right hand and wrist when holding a brush. He channeled spiritual power at the tip of the brush and quickly drew an invisibility talisman, resembling Lan Tings by about eighty percent. After a few more attempts, his talisman was almost indistinguishable from Lan Tings. Meng Jingzhou, with a grin, applied it to himself and indeed became invisible. Barbarian Bone had less talent in this area, with less precise control over spiritual power, seeding only after dozens of attempts. However, as he continued trying, his sess rate increased. Lan Ting secretly admired them; indeed, they were disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect, naturally talented in talismans. How about Lu Yang? Lan Ting looked towards Lu Yang. Lu Yang also quickly finished drawing an invisibility talisman, seeding on his first attempt, showing terrifying talent. Lu Yang applied the invisibility talisman to himself, and his entire person disappeared. However, only the person disappeared; the clothes remained. Like a ghost haunting the ce. What the hell! A miraculous event urred; the clothes started talking. Lu Yang figured since he was invisible now, he might as well take off his clothes. Then he despairingly discovered that the invisibility talisman paper was still visible. What kind of invisibility was this? He was about to tear off the invisibility talisman paper. Fortunately, reason prevailed, and he did not do so. (End of the chapter) Chapter 88: Lan Ting's Growth Chapter 88: Lan Tings Growth Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lan Ting began to deeply doubt her teaching abilities. She had heard that Lu Yang entered the Dao Seeking Sect as the top student, and his talent in spells was absolutely first-ss. For instance, his Shape-Imitating Fist had proven this point; it was a transformation of the decayed into the magical, showcasing incredible spell talent. Why did it turn out like this when she taught? Did she teach incorrectly? That shouldnt be the case; her senior sister taught her this way, and she taught Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone the same way without any issues. Could it be that she underestimated Lu Yangs spell talent, and that a genius beyond ordinary geniuses required a special method of instruction? While doubting herself, she also felt guilty. Lu Yang, oblivious to the inner turmoil of a talisman genius caused by not being able to teach him, was engrossed in studying his talisman: Do you think theres a talisman that can make other talismans invisible? That way, my invisibility talisman would disappear. Meng Jingzhou thought for a while before saying, Its hard to imagine why someone would develop the kind of talisman youre describing. Lu Yang, disheartened, dressed himself and continued practicing the invisibility talisman, with the same result as before: his body became invisible as it should, but his clothes did not. On the other hand, Barbarian Bones drawings became more standardized with each attempt, giving Lan Ting a sense of aplishment. Meng Jingzhou mocked Lu Yang gleefully: Haha, give up, youll never be able to draw a genuine invisibility talisman. Angered, Lu Yang pinched an invisibility talisman and stuck it on Meng Jingzhous forehead: Fiend, take this talisman from me! Meng Jingzhous body disappeared, but his clothes remained. He, not to be outdone, also pulled out an invisibility talisman and threw it at Lu Yang: Taoist, dont think youre the only one who can draw talismans! An invisibility talisman was also stuck on Lu Yangs forehead, and both his body and clothespletely disappeared. The two attacked each other with invisibility talismans, back and forth, without any aggression. Barbarian Bone, caught between the two, focused on drawing talismans, unaffected by their antics. Im done. Barbarian Bone picked up a stack of sessful invisibility talismans, his sess rate nearly perfect after continuous practice. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone sessfully mastered the skill. Lu Yang took an invisibility talisman drawn by Lan Ting and sessfully mastered the skill. By the way, Lan Ting, do you know how the Life-Draining Array is set up? Lu Yang asked, pondering whether the person in the shadows was really using Life-Draining Talismans to set up a Life-Draining Array but hadntpleted it yet. If that was the case, then finding a dozen or so Life-Draining Talismans and based on their positions, it would be easy to deduce the locations of other talismans. Lan Ting nodded, using her spiritual power to outline an extremely intricate array in the air, with thousands of nodes: The Life-Draining Array isrge in scale and has many nodes. If the person in the shadows only has a few people, considering they need to ce talismans in hidden locations, they wouldnt be able to set it up quickly. Got it, then youll watch the shop for us. Well go out for a bit and see if we can help with anything, Lu Yang said. Ah? Me, watch the shop? Lan Ting felt uneasy. In the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, she always followed her senior sisters instructions and didnt have much initiative. Now being asked to manage such arge shop, she was somewhat apprehensive. Its fine, nothing will happen. Just make decisions on your own if anythinges up, Lu Yang reassured, seeing no issue before leaving. After Lu Yang and the others left, Lan Ting, tasked with temporarily managing such arge shop, felt restless. Lets set up a Spirit Gathering Array. Lan Ting muttered to herself, finding something to do. The Spirit Gathering Array is a basic formation for cultivators practice. She realized that the barbecue shop did not have a Spirit Gathering Array and wondered how Lu Yang and the others practiced their cultivation. Everyone lives on the second floor, so Ill set it up there. The Spirit Gathering Array is the most basic formation, and Lan Ting set it up effortlessly. She took out spiritual stones from her identity jade card and arranged them meticulously ording to what she was taught in ss. Lets also set up a Concentration Array to quickly enter a state of cultivation. And a Soundproof Array for some quiet. Lan Ting worked meticulously, considering that the effectiveness of the Spirit Gathering Array might attract the attention of other cultivators, she also set up an array to iste the fluctuation of spiritual energy. Now its foolproof. Lan Ting was satisfied with her attention to detail. Hello, is anyone there? A voice from downstairs startled Lan Ting, sounding like it belonged to a woman. Lan Ting went downstairs and saw a fair-skinned woman standing at the door, contemting whether to step inside. Hello, may I ask who you are I run a tofu shop on Qianmen Street, my name is Wen Xiangyu. Is Shopkeeper Lu here? Wen Xiangyus voice was gentle, causing a tingling sensation. Hes out. Do you need anything? Lan Ting remembered Lu Yang mentioning her while discussing how to find the Life-Draining Talismans. Ah, its like this. With the Spring Harvest Festival approaching, I was thinking of holding a joint event with your barbecue shop. Lan Ting invited Wen Xiangyu in and served her tea: What kind of event? Not to boast, but my tofu shop has many customers on regr days, and even more so during the Spring Harvest Festival. I was thinking, we could set up an event where customers who buy tofu from my shop can get a 10% discount at your barbecue shop, and vice versa. Also, there could be a lucky spin wheel, masks, and so on. Masks? Wen Xiangyu took out a few masks, square and fair, resembling a piece of tofu. These are masks made based on the mascot of my tofu shop, and they sell very well. Lan Ting thought about it and felt Wen Xiangyus proposal was good, beneficial to the barbecue shops business. Remembering Lu Yang said she had full authority to make decisions while he was away, she agreed to it. Wen Xiangyu was delighted that Lan Ting agreed with her idea, and the two women chatted about the various details of the event, from what the spin wheel prizes would be, to what is gravity. Theres an invisible force that attracts all things in the world. Lu Yang also agrees with my view and has named this force gravity However, Lu Yang believes this invisible force is naturally urring, whereas I think someone has set up a huge array that attracts us. Oh right, you dont know about arrays. Let me tell you, arrays are very interesting. This book True Interpretation of Arrays describes arrays in a way thats easy to understand and essible When Wen Xiangyu arrived, she was grateful to Lu Yang, but when she left, her mind was filled with the principles of arrays. After seeing off Wen Xiangyu, Lan Ting noticed the ghosts skewering meat in the corner and an idea popped into her head. Lu Yangs ideas are wildly imaginative; to teach him well, should she learn his way of thinking? For instance, could she design an automatic barbecue array based on the Levitation Array, Fire Gathering Array, and other arrays? Hey, that seems like a great idea. (End of the chapter) Chapter 89: Demonic Cultivators Advised Not to Dine at the Barbecue Shop Chapter 89: Demonic Cultivators Advised Not to Dine at the Barbecue Shop Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii At this moment, Lu Yang was unaware that Lan Ting had secured a big deal. He was using the invisibility talisman and concealment techniques, following behind the officials to search for Life-Draining Talismans. The trio split up in different directions to find as many Life-Draining Talismans as possible. It was evident that the government ced immense importance on the Life-Draining Talismans, mobilizing arge force to scour Yanjiang County thoroughly. First, the government identified areas where people were most likely to feel fatigue and drowsiness, dividing the search into sections. Chief Constable Fang Qingyun even created two clones, with his true body and the clones expanding their divine consciousness to lead arge team in the search for talismans. Fang Qingyuns cultivation was too high, so Lu Yang and hispanions didnt dare follow him closely. Before long, an official found a Life-Draining Talisman. Lu Yang, hiding in the shadows, silently noted the location. By evening, when Lu Yang and hispanions regrouped, they took out a map of Yanjiang County and marked the locations of the Life-Draining Talismans. One under the Great Stone Bridge, one at the rogue shop on Qianmen Street, one at the pawnshop These are the six Life-Draining Talismans weve found so far. With just this information, we cant be sure if theyre arranged ording to the Life-Draining Array. Lets look again tomorrow. When the trio returned to the barbecue shop, they saw Lan Ting wearing a tofu mask, focusing on improving the automatic skewering array. The skewers floated above the table, being seared at high temperatures. Two ghostly figures knelt on the ground, tearfully thanking Lan Ting for her great kindness and mercy, rescuing them from endless skewering. Lu Yang was full of questions. What had happened in the less than an afternoon they were out? Where did you get this mask? Lan Ting, slightly showing off, said, Oh, it was given by the tofu shop owner you rescuedst night. She also proposed holding an event with our barbecue shop during the Spring Harvest Festival. This is the event n we discussed. I found out yesterday while working that only two ghosts were barbecuing, which was too slow, and some customers were getting impatient. So, I designed this automatic barbecue array, greatly improving efficiency. The automatic barbecue array is an innovation, never before seen. When I return to the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, I can even exchange this for contribution points. The array is also simple; it could potentially be widely promoted in the future. The Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, like the Dao Seeking Sect, has simr long-term missions. Lu Yang: It seems the rapid development of the barbecue shop was unstoppable. Meng Jingzhou, grinning, took a tofu mask: This tofu mask looks quite nice. Here, one for each person. Lu Yang, look how well this tofu mask suits you; its as if it was made for you. Lu Yang looked at the square tofu mask, rolled his eyes, and decided not to argue with the foolish, epting the mask. Lan Ting also mentioned, Ive also set up Spirit Gathering Arrays, Soundproof Arrays, and other arrays conducive to cultivation on the second floor. This was the only good news Lu Yang had heard since entering the shop: That must have cost a lot, using so many spiritual stones. Calcte how much you used, and we three will cover it. Lan Ting waved her hand: It didnt use many spiritual stones, just pocket change. Meng Jingzhou suddenly looked up, warily eyeing Lan Ting. It was the first time he had encountered a rival in the field of unting wealth. Lan Tings arrival made life much easier for the trio, allowing them to focus on searching for talismans during the day. In ten days, Lu Yang and hispanions had identified the locations of over two hundred talismans, exactly matching the nodes of the Life-Draining Array. After finding the pattern, they searched other node locations and indeed found more Life-Draining Talismans. What should we do, should we tell Constable Wei? Meng Jingzhou asked. Lu Yang was in a dilemma. Informing Constable Wei about the locations of the Life-Draining Talismans would surely let his superiors know that someone was helping them from the shadows. If Helmsman Chu heard the news, he might suspect them. But if they didnt tell, leaving the Life-Draining Talismans ced around Yanjiang County was still a hidden danger. Waiter, bring two hundred skewers ofmb and two hundred skewers of beef! A hearty voice called out, so loud that even the ghostly figures in the backyard heard it clearly. Normally, such a request would have scared them out of their wits. But now, with the automatic skewering array, their workload was significantly reduced. Not to mention two hundred skewers ofmb and beef, even two hundred skewers of pork wouldnt scare them! Add another two hundred skewers of pork! the hearty voice continued, apparently from someone wealthy. Lu Yang squinted, feeling the voices owner seemed familiar: Its Yizhang Hong, who participated in the sects selection, along with two others following him, all at the Foundation Establishment stage. These three did not pass the selection. Will we be recognized? Barbarian Bone asked, as they had once tricked Yizhang Hong while impersonating examiners. Lu Yang shook his head: No, the helmsman said that for the secrecy of the sub-sect, those who didnt pass the selection had their memories erased by the headquarters. They wont remember the details of the selection. Seeing no one attending to him, Yizhang Hong shouted in a coarse voice: Hello? Are you deaf? Coming,ing, what would you like to order, sir? Lu Yang hurried out to greet them. Yizhang Hongs attitude was domineering: Two hundred skewers each of pork, beef, andmb, and you decide on the rest. I heard your ce is good, and if its not, watch me smash your shop! Clearly, he didnt recognize Lu Yang, or he would have smashed the shop directly. Lu Yang greeted him with a smile, nodding and bowing: Rest assured, sir, our skewers will surely be so delicious youll want to eat them for a lifetime. Yizhang Hong snorted coldly, ignoring Lu Yang. Yizhang Hongspanions also squinted their eyes, disdainful to speak with Lu Yang. Lu Yang transmitted a message to Meng Jingzhou: Inform Constable Wei, say there are three Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators here, and ask him to bring people to arrest them. These rogue demonic cultivators were ruthless killers, and byw, they deserved death several times over. Lu Yang wouldnt be soft-hearted. Lets show them some demonic path methodsreport them! Meng Jingzhou was stunned for a moment before transmitting back: But we dont have evidence. How can we prove theyre Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators? Will Constable Wei believe us? Lu Yang sneered: Whats there not to believe? Just say we noticed they have talismans that could induce sleep on them. Meng Jingzhou understood Lu Yangs n; they had a few Life-Draining Talismans on hand, perfect for framing. Alright, Ill be right back. Meng Jingzhou hurried out. When Constable Wei heard that three Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators appeared, possibly possessing Life-Draining Talismans, he didnt take it lightly and quickly reported to Fang Qingyun. Without hesitation, Fang Qingyun led arge force to encircle the three. Whether they had the Life-Draining Talismans or not, just the presence of three Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators justified the response. Fang Qingyun arrived at the barbecue shop, exerting the pressure of a Golden Core stage cultivator, immobilizing Yizhang Hong and the others, thenmanded authoritatively: Arrest them, search them! Before Yizhang Hong and hispanions could understand what was happening, they were captured by several Foundation Establishment stage constables and pinned to the ground. Whats going on? Is eating skewers in Yanjiang County a crime now? Then, Constable Wei found arge number of Life-Draining Talismans on Yizhang Hong, far more than what Lu Yang had framed him with. So it really was you who ced the Life-Draining Array! Fang Qingyun red at Yizhang Hong, ming him for hisck of rest these past few days. Lu Yang: Meng Jingzhou: Wait, could you not be so cooperative? Yizhang Hong and hispanions were even more puzzled. They thought their operation was wless, leaving no clues. Why did the constablese to arrest them? Where did the problem lie? (End of the chapter) Chapter 90: Interrogation Record Chapter 90: Interrogation Record Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Name? Yizhang Hong. Be honest, whats your real name? Zhang Xiaohong. Inside the interrogation room, under the flickering dim oilmp that cast a gloomy and dark atmosphere, Fang Qingyun stood with arms crossed, smirking at the newly captured suspect, while Constable Wei stared into Yizhang Hongs eyes, throwing one question after another. A junior constable was rapidly jotting down the interrogation content on a table beside them. Gender? Male. Cultivation level? Peak Late Foundation Establishment stage. Constable Wei snorted coldly: Record that,te Foundation Establishment stage, skip the rest. Zhang Xiaohong, now Ill tell you, if you think our handling of this case affects a fair trial, you can request a recusal, meaning someone else will take over. Do you wish to apply for a recusal? I request Constable Wei hummed, dragging the sound out with a rising intonation. Zhang Xiaohong quickly said: No, no, I do not request a recusal. Tell us, what brought you here? Not paying for skewers? Fang Qingyun, losing patience, said: Stop the interrogation, execute him on the spot. Just say he resisted fiercely when arrested, preferring death over submission, and died from poisoning himself. This was definitely something Fang Qingyun would do. Yizhang Hong, chained up, hurriedly said: Ill talk. About ten days ago, I woke up at the bottom of a cliff. It seems I identally slid down while passing by the mountain on the west side of Yanjiang County. When I woke up, I found a cave that seemed to be a cultivators dwelling. The cave looked long abandoned. I cautiously entered and found nothing of value except for a book. That book was taken from me during the search. It contained some obscure talismans and corresponding arrays, such as the Life-Draining Talisman and Life-Draining Array. ording to the book, the Life-Draining Talisman could convert lifespan into my cultivation. I was at a bottleneck and thought of breaking through to the Golden Core stage in one fell swoop, to live freely. Moreover, this method of breakthrough could also increase lifespan, which was too tempting. Fang Qingyun angrily said: Ive consulted with the county magistrate. With the scale youve set up, let alone breaking through from the Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core stage, even breaking through from the Golden Core to the Nascent Soul stage would be more than sufficient! Yizhang Hong thought to himself that he also knew it was a waste, but he didnt know any other method. Of course, he couldnt say that, so Yizhang Hong pretended not to hear Fang Qingyuns scolding and continued: Im a talisman cultivator myself and quickly learned the Life-Draining Talisman. Setting up the Life-Draining Array wasnt difficult; just arranging the Life-Draining Talismans into the shape of the array was enough. The effect of the Life-Draining Talisman is undetectable by cultivators, and its effect on mortals is merely causing drowsiness, easily overlooked. Moreover, once the array is set up, even the drowsiness effect disappears. Its just that the Life-Draining Array requires too many talismans to be posted, impossible for one person toplete in a short time. I happened to meet twopanions, the other two youve captured. Strangely, those two were not from Yanjiang County and appeared here, unable to remember why they came to Yanjiang County. We hit it off and decided to break through the Foundation Establishment stage together. We were meticulous in our actions, leaving no traces. While you were actively searching for Life-Draining Talismans, we didnt make any moves, feeling this ce bing increasingly unsafe. We wanted to leave Yanjiang County but heard about a famous barbecue shop here and wanted to try it before leaving. Before the skewers were even ready, you guys showed up. Yizhang Hong was puzzled, unable to figure out where the mistake was made. Constable Wei naturally wouldnt say it was the enthusiastic shop owner who reported them. After the interrogation, Constable Wei had him sign: Write your name at the bottom of each page, and on thest page write, I have read the above record, and it matches what I said.'' Press your fingerprint where all the signatures are. The next day, Constable Wei sent over a banner ofmendation as usual. He was considering whether to simply set up an office in the barbecue shop and live there, wondering if catching people this way would be more efficient than patrolling all day. With this going on, bing the Chief Constable seemed just a matter of time. Shopkeeper Lu, your barbecue shop has good Feng Shui, a ce of outstanding people and spirituality. Lu Yang offered a forced smile: Whether the ce is spiritually vibrant is secondary; the main thing is it attracts outstanding people. The magistrate office has been too busytely. Once its less busy, Ill apply to the higher-ups to see if we can issue your shop a que for being an outstanding establishment. That would be great, heres some freshly boiled water, have it while its hot. Lu Yang enthusiastically poured a cup of boiling water: Are you still busy even after catching them? Ah, well, the people have been caught, and we found the ce they mentioned, an abandoned cave that was probably used by a wanted demonic cultivator as a hideout. Once we tear down the Life-Draining Talismans ording to their directions, this case will be considered closed. The problem is the Spring Harvest Festival ising, and it looks like well have 20% more visitors thanst year. I doubt the Chief Constable will approve any leave, telling me to patrol more during the festival. You cane here to rest if youre tired from patrolling; our shop will be open as usual during the Spring Harvest Festival. After sending off Constable Wei, Meng Jingzhou heaved a sigh of relief: Finally, its over. The past few days have been so tense, searching for Life-Draining Talismans every day. Maybe Yizhang Hong saw how hard we were working and decided to walk into the trap himself. Barbarian Bone hesitated, feeling that Yizhang Hong probably didnt think that way. Lu Yang noticed Lan Ting gesturing non-stop and asked curiously: What are you doing? Lan Ting, without looking up, said: Im trying to research an automatic skewering array, where the bamboo skewers automatically thread the meat pieces. Lu Yang picked up a bamboo skewer, pinched it between two fingers, and weighed it, deep in thought. Suddenly, he threw several pieces of meat into the air and with a flick of his fingers, threw the bamboo skewer. Unfortunately, the skewer grazed past the meat pieces without threading them. Barbarian Bone didnt understand what Lu Yang was doing, thinking Brother Lu was ying some new game. Meng Jingzhous eyes lit up, catching on. Are you trying to use bamboo skewers to thread meat, practicing the technique of using hidden weapons? Lu Yang smiled without saying a word, which was as good as a confirmation. Soon, Meng Jingzhou also joined the practice, studying how to exert force precisely to skewer the meat pieces moving in the air. Barbarian Bone hesitated: This isnt something righteous cultivators do, right? Lu Yang seriously said: Youre mistaken. Havent you heard Upright stands the bamboo amid green mountains steep, Its toothlike root in broken rock is nted deep. Its strong and firm though struck and beaten without rest. Careless of the wind from north or south; east or west.? Bamboo is resilient and modest, a symbol of a gentleman. How could using bamboo as a weapon be considered a hidden weapon? (TL Note: The poem is Bamboo in the Rock by Zheng Xie. I got the trantion from https://.istudy-china/poem-bamboo-in-the-rock/) This is a weapon only gentlemen would use. Enlightened, Barbarian Bone felt an epiphany: So thats how it is, then Ill join too. Lan Ting focused on her array research, with several bamboo skewers floating in mid-air. Suddenly, with a whoosh, a skewer shot straight into the wall, quivering at the end. If the target had been a person, they would have been dead. The power seems a bit too strong, Lan Ting scratched her head, puzzled. She had tried to minimize the force as much as possible. Forget the automatic skewering array, might as well turn the power up to the maximum. The two specters watching the chaotic scene shivered in fear. (End of the chapter) Chapter 91: After the Sun Sets, Comes the Moon Chapter 91: After the Sun Sets, Comes the Moon Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Before Lan Ting set up the Spirit Gathering Array, the three practiced their cultivation separately, constantly consolidating and enhancing their Foundation Establishment stage cultivation. After the Spirit Gathering Array was established on the second floor, the four of them practiced together. In their spare time, they exchanged cultivation insights, reaping substantial benefits. For example, Lu Yang learned that Barbarian Bone wouldnt practice horse stance while reciting the Sages Words believing it to be disrespectful to the sages. However, Barbarian Bone would recite the Sages Words while practicing horse stance. For example, Barbarian Bone found out that Meng Jingzhou frequented brothels during the day to train his mental strength, listening to songs without engaging in other activities, which was admirable. For instance, Meng Jingzhou learned that Lu Yang, when food got stuck in his teeth, would use ox hair infused with Sword Qi to pick it out, which was a whole new way of cultivation. For example, Lan Ting learned that the central continent was once refined from stars. Its actually like that. Lan Ting was stunned, this revtion greatly impacting her and resolving some of her confusion. What confusion? Lan Ting thought for a moment, feeling it wasnt something she couldnt discuss: You all know that the name of our Moon Laurel Immortal Pce has a dual meaning. One is that the sect is filled withurel trees, and the other is that the sect believes the moon has a certain special significance. The Moon Laurel Immortal Pce was built on the summit of a snowy mountain to be closer to the moon, indicating the moons importance in the sect. When I joined the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, I asked my master why the moon held special significance. What about the sun? What about other stars? Can we draw power from the stars, like the Big Dipper? My master said the moon and the sun were originally one entity. As for the other stars, she just smiled meaningfully and didnt say much. However, my master always smiles like that when faced with things she doesnt understand, so I didnt dwell on it. Listening to you all, I think she probably knows the truth about the stars. Lu Yang frowned: The moon and the sun are one entity? Lan Ting nodded: Originally, I also didnt understand what this meant. Later, after a ss, when two senior sisters were talking, they said, After the sun extinguishes, it bes the moon.'' After the sun extinguishes, it bes the moon? Lu Yang was surprised, as this was a statement he had never heard before. Could it be that the myriad stars are illusions, and the sun and moon are the only real entities, and they are two sides of the same existence? The sun burns during the day, and at night it extinguishes to be the moon? The energy of the sun is terrifying; its said that the sun is the source of all life, and to this day, people practice cultivation using the sun, either through meditation or contemtion. If the sun is the moon, then where does all that extinguished energy go? That must be a colossal amount of energy! Does the sun at night retract this power, hiding it within, transforming into the moon? Speaking of which, why didnt the ancient nameless entity refine the sun along with the myriad stars? Lu Yang murmured. Without the sun, the world would be dim, and countless beings would wither and die. ording to Helmsman Chu, the ancient nameless entity regarded human life as worthless, so probably wouldnt have spared the sun out ofpassion. Meng Jingzhou suddenly asked: Do you know about the Sr Cult? The Sr Cult, one of the four major demonic sects? Lu Yang knew very little about it. Yes, the Sr Cult worships the sun, believing it holds some miraculous power. They im that when the sun is revived, all things will perish. They advocate self-destruction before the suns revival, to go to a heavenly paradise. Meng Jingzhou continued: I mean no offense to the sect, but if the sun and moon are one entity, then the views of the Sr Cult and the sect align in some ways, both acknowledging the sun and moons special existential significance and terrifying power. Lan Ting shook her head, not feeling that Meng Jingzhou was being offensive. There are such views within the sect, and even more radical ones. Meng Jingzhou shared a spection: Its possible that the ancient nameless entity is hidden within the sun. The sun has been hanging in the sky since ancient times, unchallenged, a blind spot in our thinking. Lu Yang offered another spection: Or perhaps the sun contains some immense power that even the ancient nameless entity was reluctant to touch. Regardless of which possibility, the sun and moon are far from the peaceful entities they appear to be. Lets forget it; its rare to encounter the Spring Harvest Festival, lets go out and have fun. Meng Jingzhou gave up on pondering and called everyone to rx. Instead of sitting here with all these thoughts, it might be better to go home and ask the elders. Those people definitely know more than himself. Like they knew he was a Single Spiritual Root but never told him, saying if he came to the Dao Seeking Sect, he would find out what type of spiritual root he was. As the Spring Harvest Festival approached, the festive atmosphere thickened, with various shopsunching activities to wee a surge of customers. The barbecue shop also entered its preparatory phase, offering tofu masks when buying skewers, much to the delight of children. The streets were adorned with colorful gs, a tradition in Yanjiang County organized by the government, meant to mimic the colors of spring and wee the season. Its said that Prefect Li specifically instructed that the gs be ced quickly, not to disrupt the normal lives of the people, mobilizing many for this task. In reality, the speed of g cement wouldnt affect peoples lives; it was just Prefect Li putting on a show for the public. With these gs up, it really feels like a festival. Meng Jingzhouughed, noting even the entrance to the barbecue shop was decorated with a red g. Take a look, take a look, rare books you dont see every day! An old man with yellow teeth was selling books by the street, piquing the interest of the group. What books are you selling? Martial arts secrets, out-of-print techniques, everything you could want. The old man with yellow teeth said with a smile. Meng Jingzhou casually flipped through and suddenly his eyes lit up, finding a martial arts secret manual: Lu Yang, look at this. This book is perfect for you. If youre willing to practice it, I guarantee you could reach the highest level. Lu Yang saw the cover, Toad Martial Arts. Get lost! Soon, Lu Yang also found a martial arts secret manual, suggesting Meng Jingzhou practice it: This martial arts manual is tailor-made for you. If youre willing to practice it, bing a martial immortal in the future is not impossible! Meng Jingzhou saw the cover, Sunflower Manual. The two exchanged nces andughed, kindly purchasing the manuals for each other. Barbarian Bone saw the first page of the Sunflower Manual read To practice this technique, one must first be castrated, and fell into thought: Does this mean women cant practice this martial art? Lan Ting didnt hear Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhous banter; she was engrossed in a serialized novel. The novel was about a courtesan who sought to redeem herself and pursue true love, entrusting her life to a schr. But the schr was weak and selfish, truly in love with the courtesan but too embarrassed to marry a courtesan as his wife. Influenced by friends, he ultimately betrayed the courtesan, leading to her tragic suicide by drowning. Lan Ting was moved to tears, feeling deep sympathy for the courtesan. Lu Yang saw Lan Ting immersed in the story, stretching his neck to see, and found the story truly vivid and touching. He leaned over to see the books title. Dream of the Red Chamber Lu Yang: He felt the books title gave off a particrly odd vibe. (TL Note: Dream of the Red Chamber is a Chinese novelposed in the mid-18th century. One of the Four Great ssical Novels of Chinese literature, it is known for its psychological scope and its observation of the worldview, aesthetics, lifestyles, and social rtions of 18th-century China.) (End of the chapter) Chapter 92: The Market of Cultivators Chapter 92: The Market of Cultivators Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii All four of them bought books to their liking. Barbarian Bone, out of interest in history, purchased a copy of The Unofficial History of the Great Xia. It contained many stories that even Meng Jingzhou, someone privy to insider information, found to be wild. Regardless, all four were satisfied with their purchases. As they walked, they noticed fewer and fewer mortals around them and more cultivators, as if a mysterious force was separating mortals from cultivators. Lan Ting and the othersmunicated telepathically: A repelling array has been deployed nearby, making mortals unconsciously steer clear of this area, while cultivators are unaffected. Meng Jingzhou suddenly realized and recalled information he had gathered during his casual strolls: Its the monthly market, which seems to have opened earlier this time due to the Spring Harvest Festival. The Spring Harvest Festival attracts not only mortals but also cultivators. This ce is a legitimate market, not the kind where murders and lootings aremon, and they could even see constables patrolling the area. That said, there were still many people in the market concealing their identities with masks or wearing ck robes. This wasmon; some cultivators live among mortals in disguise. If they were toe here in their true forms, wouldnt that expose their identities? For instance, Lu Yangs group of four. Each had their own method of concealing their identity: Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone chose to wear ck robes, feeling it added to the atmosphere, with Meng Jingzhou even chuckling menacingly a few times. Lan Ting removed her transformation talisman, revealing her naturally beautiful face, as she had been using her real identity while searching for demonic sect clues in Yanjiang County. Lu Yang discussed with Meng Jingzhou: How about I perform the Shape-Imitating Fist and transform into your appearance? The response he got was Meng Jingzhou pping the tofu mask onto Lu Yangs face. Lu Yang wore the tofu mask. Inside the market, there was a strong atmosphere of cultivation. A huge protective barrier enveloped the entire market, emitting a soft glow, creating a stark contrast with the outside world. Cultivators not seen for a long time sat by the roadside taverns, sipping a drink and discussing recent observations; cultivators argued with vendors over the prices of goods, each trying to earn a few more spirit stones; the government set up a fighting ring for cultivators who wished to duel, allowing them to fight to their hearts content on the ring. Look here, look here, the secret Great Strength Pill recipe passed down through generations, take one and gain unlimited strength! Lu Yang found it interesting and followed the voice to discover it was a medical hall. It seemed this medical hall was run by cultivators, with either an apprentice or an alchemist calling out the sales pitch. How much for one pill? The alchemists apprentice said: Ten spirit stones each, buy three get one free, buy five get two free. The price wasnt high, indicating the pills were not intended for cultivators at Lu Yangs Foundation Establishment stage but rather for those at the Qi Cultivation stage. Lu Yang decided to buy two as a souvenir, his first time seeing someone outside the Dao Seeking Sect making pills: Whats the effect? It temporarily increases strength, but after the strength fades, youll fall into a state of weakness for half a day. Lu Yang bought a pill and was about to leave when he saw Constable Sune in, whom he recognized as Constable Weis assistant. Ive received a report here that your Great Strength Pill involves false advertising. The alchemists apprentice was stunned, false advertising? Constable Sun exined seriously: ording to thew, you cannot use words like ultimate or unlimited in product advertising. After investigation, we found that your Great Strength Pill is suitable for cultivators below the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation and does not have the effect of unlimited strength. We hope you will correct this after this warning. The apprentice alchemist nodded earnestly, and after Lu Yang left, a voice came from the medical hall: Look here, look here, the Great Strength Pill crafted with a secret alchemy recipe passed down through generations, take one pill, and gain limited strength! Lu Yang suddenly felt that the Ten Bulls Strength Pill crafted by his senior brother Wu Ming was truly faultless, even avoiding the mostmon issue of false advertising in medicinal pills. Meng Jingzhou, who had seen many things and had a rtively serious alchemist in his family, showed little interest inmon items. Whats this? Meng Jingzhou picked up a small object from a stall, two wooden sticks glued together perpendicrly: Is this for making Chinese Breakfast Crepes? They sell this in the market? The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a full beard, serious-faced, sitting leisurely with his eyes closed, barely opening them reluctantly when Meng Jingzhou spoke, exuding the demeanor of a great artifact master. This is called the Flying Stick. ce it above your head, activate it with spiritual power, and it will spin and take you to the skies. It can be activated by those with a cultivation level of Qi Cultivation Stage Seven. Meng Jingzhou was astonished, realizing that the small market truly hid dragons and crouching tigers, harboring such an artifact master. Without special means, only Golden Core stage cultivators can fly; for example, Lu Yang could only fly with his sword at the Foundation Establishment stage, or by transforming into a crane with his Shape-Imitating Fist. Whether in general or special circumstances, the lowest requirement for cultivation to fly is the Foundation Establishment stage. Meng Jingzhou had never heard of flying at the Qi Cultivation Stage Seven. Qi Cultivation Stage Sevens spiritual power is thin, making it difficult to operate flying treasures. Seeing your disbelief, let me demonstrate. The bearded middle-aged man, confident, took out a wooden puppet. He tied the Flying Stick to the puppet, a wisp of spiritual energy emerged from his fingertip, striking the Flying Stick. The Flying Stick, as if just awakened, slowly began to rotate, speeding up until only its afterimage was visible. The Flying Stick, along with the wooden puppet, ascended into the sky, seemingly without issue. If theres a problem to mention, its that the Flying Sticks rotation also caused the wooden puppet to spin, with the puppets head as the center, its body rotating at high speed, maintaining the same frequency as the Flying Stick! If a person were below the Flying Stick, their brain would be thoroughly scrambled. See, didnt I tell you our puppets quality is good? It doesnt fall apart even when spinning so fast. Not to boast, but this puppet can even contend with a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, and the price is fair, a t rate of eight hundred! Go to hell! Meng Jingzhou finally understood that the other party was essentially using the name of the Flying Stick to sell puppets! Its clear that the market is full of deceit, and sincere people like Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou are rare. Lu Yang and his group nned to visit the Land of Gold Commerce area next, which is more regted and doesnt have the issues they just encountered. Would the four guests like to have their fortunes told? A voice rang out beside them. Lu Yang turned to see it was a fortune-teller, with an Eight Trigrams g hanging behind him, reading Calcting heaven and earth is not as good as calcting people, looking quite deste with no customers. Seeing Lu Yang and his friends pay attention, the fortune-teller added: If its not urate, its free. Want to give it a try? Lu Yang noticed the items on his table: an Eight Trigrams te, dice, the Four Treasures of Study, nine copper coins, a crystal ball Everything one could need for fortune-telling wasid out. Is this reliable? And why is there a crystal ball? (TL Note: Chinese Breakfast Crepes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jianbing_guozi) (End of the chapter) Chapter 93: Fortune Telling Chapter 93: Fortune Telling Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii (TL Note: Changed Tian Ce Sect -> Heavens Mysteries Sect) The fortune-teller was a cultivator about the same age as Lu Yang. Noticing Lu Yangs gaze, he exined with a hint ofint: Theres no helping it, people nowadays dont really believe in fortune-telling anymore, chanting things like I control my fate, not the heavens, making a living isnt easy. Some people prefer to have their fortunes told with Eight Trigrams, so I prepared a Eight Trigrams te. Some want to gamble on their luck, so I have dice. Some believe in fortune-telling through writing, so I prepared the Four Treasures of the Study. Some think tossing copper coins is the most effective, so I have ninerge coins prepared. And this crystal ball, its a trend that has risen in recent years from the Eastern Seas. People like to use crystal balls for fortune-telling, for which I even went to the Eastern Seas to learn. Besides, this crystal ball can not only tell fortunes on the surface but also y small videos in secret, making money from two functions. How about it, want to choose one and give it a try? Its free if its not urate. The fortune-teller enthusiastically promoted his services. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou looked at the fortune-teller with suspicion, feeling wary. Lu Yang always felt that the fortune-teller was not simple, as if he could see through something. Barbarian Bone, encountering fortune-telling for the first time, found it very interesting: Can you tell my fortune? The fortune-tellers lips curled into a slight smile: Sure, which method would you like to use, and what would you like to inquire about? Barbarian Bone thought for a moment, considering himself a Confucian cultivator, and said: Lets go with character fortune-telling. Ill write a character, and you tell me if I can be a great Confucian. Please. The fortune-teller skillfully arranged the Four Treasures of the Study, inviting Barbarian Bone to write. Barbarian Bone penned the character swiftly. The fortune-teller tapped it and hissed long: This character of yours Whats wrong? Barbarian Bone asked anxiously. Your writing is so ugly. What character is this? Confucian. The fortune-tellerposed himself and analyzed, A Confucian is gentle, a term for schrs. Its formed from person and need sounds. Youre physically strong, seemingly indestructible, but you have a soft heart, indecisive, easily swayed by others, bing like whatever you learn. Looking at the need character, with rain above and below. As the saying goes, clouds above the sky, rain when needed, implying you will be needed in the future. This person character stands by itself, meaning not only can you be a great Confucian, but you could also be a new form of great Confucian. (TL Note: The character for Confucian is . If you split it right and left, it forms , person, and , need. The need can be further split from the top and bottom to form , rain, and , which is and.) Barbarian Bone, hearing he could be a great Confucian, was overjoyed. His level in Confucian studies was the lowest among the four elders disciples. Although the elders didnt mind, advocating teaching without discrimination, saying he just hadnt had his enlightenment yet. Once enlightened, he could instantly enter the path of Confucianism, with limitless prospects. But Barbarian Bone alwayscked confidence. Now, with the fortune-tellers analysis, saying he could be a great Confucian, he regained his confidence. He still had great potential! By the way, theres one more thing. What? Practice your writing more when you get back. Oh. Do you need a copybook? I happen to have one here. Take one, its a necessary expense on your path to bing a great Confucian. Barbarian Bone thought the fortune-teller made sense and bought a copybook. Seeing Barbarian Bones fortune-telling session was interesting, Lan Ting also wanted to try and sat down, asking: I want to know if my future achievements will be higher in formations or in talismans. Lets use the crystal ball. She had recently started learning about formations and found her interest in formations seemed to exceed talismans. Lan Ting was considering whether to change her focus. The fortune-teller lifted the crystal ball towards Lan Ting, rubbing his hands back and forth, muttering: Spirit of the heavens, spirit of the earth, crystal ball reveal your powers! Spirit of the heavens, spirit of the earth, crystal ball reveal your powers! Seeing the result shown in the crystal ball, the fortune-teller was dumbfounded: Uh, in the future, you incorporated formations into talismans, merging formations and talismans into one? The fortune-teller looked at Lan Ting with a strange gaze, pondering over such an unconventional approach. This beautiful female cultivator, why does her thinking diverge so much from ordinary people? Lan Ting tilted her head in thought, feeling that what the fortune-teller said wasnt impossible, and promptly paid him. It was Meng Jingzhous turn next. He raised an eyebrow, You wouldnt happen to be a disciple of the Heavens Mysteries Sect, would you? The Heavens Mysteries Sect, known as the foremost fortune-telling sect in the Central Continent, had predicted the reappearance of the ancient great era. The sect highly values cause and effect, and ordinary means of concealing ones identity are ineffective in front of them. A nce from a disciple of the Heavens Mysteries Sect can reveal ones background and origins. Perhaps this fortune-teller saw that they came from the Dao Seeking Sect and the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce. Ha ha, dear brother, you must be mistaken. Im just a wanderer, a mere mortal. How could I possibly be a disciple of the Heavens Mysteries Sect? Meng Jingzhou fell silent for a moment, then took out a blood oath scroll from his identity jade token, Three hundred years ago, the Supreme Elder of the Heavens Mysteries Sect borrowed a huge amount of top-grade spirit stones from our Meng family and then hid in his cave, iming to be in closed-door cultivation. When our Meng family went to your sect to collect the debt, your sect leader made a blood oath, promising to repay it, and said that any direct descendant of the Meng family encountering a disciple of the Heavens Mysteries Sect could demand repayment ording to the blood oath. Do you want to test the power of the blood oath? Hearing that the Meng family was the creditor of the world, it seemed to be true. The fortune-teller Luo Bo knelt down immediately, clinging to Meng Jingzhous leg, crying and begging, Big brother Meng, please have mercy so we can meet again in the future! Our Heavens Mysteries Sect is so poor that we cant even afford to keep disciples; were sent down the mountain to fend for ourselves. If I, Luo Bo, had money, I wouldnt have fallen to scamming people here! I even have to pay a stall fee here, and I cant afford it! Look at this robe Im wearing; its been patched up and worn for several years, I dont have the money to buy a new one! Meng Jingzhou rolled his eyes; the robe was clearly refined and valuable. I didnt expect you to repay the debt, just get up. Meng Jingzhou forcefully pulled his leg free, Give us two fortunes for free, and I wont trouble you anymore. Remember, no deceiving! Ha ha ha, thats easy. Come on, tell me about my fate, what will my future achievements be? Lu Yang spread his hands, letting the disciple of the Heavens Mysteries Sect, Luo Bo, read his palm. Luo Boughed confidently, still self-assured in his expertise: Thats amon question, let me take a look. Unexpectedly, Luo Bos eyes widened, he suddenly stood up in disbelief, backed away several steps until he reached the wall. Your, your, your fate its murky, in the future, you will have karmic ties with several immortals! Luo Bo found that despite being entwined in the karma of immortals, Lu Yang could move freely as if unaffected. But thats not the most terrifying part. The most horrifying thing was Luo Bo also discovered that Lu Yang would be a major disaster in the cultivation world, spreading the Dao Seeking Sects practices throughout the entire cultivation world! The Dao Seeking Sects practices were outrageous enough; if the entire cultivation world were to be assimted by the Dao Seeking Sect, how could anyone live! Absolutely must not entangle with such a person! Luo Bo inwardlymented; he saw the four as wealthy sheep, perfect for scamming some money, not expecting to encounter an untouchable existence like Lu Yang! No, from the fortune, it wasnt just Lu Yang spreading the bad practices throughout the cultivation world, but another person as well. The other person is Luo Bo looked towards the big debtor, Meng Jingzhou. Run! Without another word, Luo Bo used an escape technique, not even bothering to pack up his table, and fled: I, I, I havent seen you today! One more nce and he feared his life would end here. Before the four could react, Luo Bo had vanished. Lu Yang med Meng Jingzhou, It must be your debt collecting that scared him away. (End of the chapter) Chapter 94: Could This Book Be the Legendary One That Hides... Chapter 94: Could This Book Be the Legendary One That Hides Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Facing Lu Yangs skilled usations, Meng Jingzhou disdainfully retorted, What do you mean I scared him away? Didnt you hear what he said, about you having karmic entanglements with immortals in the future? Its probably you who did something that outraged both humans and gods, angering the immortals to unite and suppress you! Lu Yang waved his hand dismissively, Impossible. I am always aware of my actions and would never do something so outrageous. It must be an excuse Luo Bo made up. The two of them kept passing the me, firmly refusing to admit it was their fault. Barbarian Bone opened his mouth, wanting to suggest that perhaps it was both of their faults, but ultimately, he didnt say it. After spending a few days together, Lan Ting had gradually be familiar with Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhous way of speaking. She treated their argument like it was just wind blowing past her ears. Look, thats the Land of Gold Commerce ahead. Let me take you around! At the entrance of the Land of Gold Commerce, a statue of a chubby pig holding a coin in its hand stood, representing the ssic mascot of themerce. Lu Yang had long heard of the great reputation of the Land of Gold Commerce and wanted to take a look. The interior of themerce was decorated in a low-key manner, exuding taste throughout. This was starkly different from the decoration style of somemerces that suddenly became rich and tried hard to unt their wealth. The Land of Gold Commerce did not need to unt; its reputation alone spoke volumes. In the Central Continent, the name of the number onemerce was known to all. Inside themerce, the array of goods dazzled Barbarian Bone. There were pills meticulously refined by masters, spiritual treasures forged by craftsmen with all their might, rare materials unearthed from dangerous ces, and talismans and formations evolving from simplicity toplexity Seeing the prices marked, Barbarian Bone felt like a pauper who couldnt afford anything. Barbarian Bone noticed that Meng Jingzhou and Lan Ting were browsing themerce casually, strolling leisurely without worrying about the prices, which he could understand. But he was surprised to find that Lu Yang, who was supposedly of simr financial status, also seemed indifferent to the prices. Barbarian Bone quietly asked, Brother Lu, the items here are so expensive. I cant afford any. Of course, Barbarian Bone couldnt mean he couldnt afford anything at all; he meant that he couldnt afford those seemingly powerful items suitable for the Foundation Establishment stage. Lu Yang looked at Barbarian Bone in surprise, Buy? Why would you want to buy things here? Look at these pills and treasures. They may look luxurious and expensive, but they are essentially just for show. How can theypare to the items produced by our sect in terms of practicality? Barbarian Bone nodded, recognizing the truth in Lu Yangs words. The fried dough sticks from their sect were cheap, sturdy, and chewy. More than a month had passed, and the half of the fried dough stick that Lu Yang gave to Meng Jingzhou was still not finished. Besides, if you dont have money, cant you just make some? With our status, we can easily make money by selling something. Watch this, Ill show you how. With that, Lu Yang approached a waiter standing by, Excuse me, do you buy techniques here? The waiter politely responded, Hello, yes, we do. However, we only purchase spells that are notmon in ourmerce. We already havemon techniques here. Are you looking to sell a technique? Lu Yang nodded, I have a transformation technique that allows attacking while transforming. Its a secret art of my family. The waiter was surprised. He had been working there for ten years and had never heard of such a transformation technique. Please, follow me. Theres an auction happening today, and Master Yang Xuanlun is here. Lets have him appraise the value of your transformation technique. The four were led to a room where an elderly man with sses was reading a book. His aged appearance suggested he was well-experienced and knowledgeable, presumably Yang Xuanlun. The waiter whispered a few words to Yang Xuanlun. Oh? Theres such a technique? I understand. You may leave now. Yes. The waiter respectfully exited the room. The four of you have a transformation technique that allows attacking while transforming? Exactly. Lu Yang presented his Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist. Yang Xuanlun fell silent for a moment, If my eyes havent deceived me, and I havent misread the words, does the book say Shape-Imitating Fist? Lu Yang stepped forward, crossed out the words Shape-Imitating Fist on the cover, and wrote Transformation Technique. Now its a transformation technique. Yang Xuanlun encountered for the first time someone who was so casual with naming. After being in this line of work for so long, indeed, you meet all kinds of people. Yang Xuanlun slowly flipped through the pages, analyzing word by word, and angrily eximed, Isnt this just Shape-Imitating Fist! How could that be? Lu Yang was genuinely surprised, This is definitely a transformation technique. Look, Ill demonstrate it for you! Lu Yang performed a set of Shape-Imitating Fist on the spot, transforming from Barbarian Bone to Meng Jingzhou, then into a tiger demon. The performance was powerful and seemed very formidable. Yang Xuanlun watched with wide eyes for a long time but couldnt understand how Lu Yang managed to transform. It was indeed Shape-Imitating Fist, the processpletely consistent with what was written in the book, and there was no use of any spells in secret. How much should it be priced? Yang Xuanlun stroked his beard, pretending to fully understand, Your transformation technique is indeed interesting. It would be a waste to simply sell it as a regr item outside. How about we take this transformation technique to auction? Theres an auction happening soon. Okay. At the auction site, Lu Yang encountered an old acquaintance. It was Chi Xulun, who had mastered the skill of spitting stones. Chi Xulun didnt disguise himself, true to his introduction of being mboyant and disliking disguises. With his cultivation, he indeed didnt need to disguise himself in the entire Yanjiang County. Sitting next to Chi Xulun was a man in a ck robe, whom Lu Yang guessed was the assassin Shen Jinyi. Lu Yang took the initiative to sit next to Chi Xulun. Upon seeing the childish tofu mask on Lu Yang, Chi Xulun snorted disdainfully. For some reason, he felt very angry when he saw the person in the tofu mask. The well-dressed auctioneer took the stage, appearing professionally trained. Without using his cultivation, his voice was loud and clear, audible throughout the venue. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you foring. Without further ado, lets begin. Todays first auction item is three Foundation Establishment Pills. As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue buzzed with excitement, not expecting the auction to start with such a heavyweight item. Most attendees were in the middle orter stages of Qi cultivation, knowing their financial limits, early-stage cultivators wouldnt attend the auction. Even Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were tempted, who doesnt have a Qi stage junior in their family? Lu Yang didnt. He thought about it and realized that among the people he knew, he was the one with the lowest cultivation level. When the ancient ancestors first established the path of cultivation, they naturally didnt rely on external objects and built their foundation on their own, but that method was extremely risky, and countless people died in the process of foundation establishment. Later, someone developed Foundation Establishment Pills that could improve the efficiency of foundation building. These pills not only increase the sess rate but also ensure that there are noplications after failure, nor does ones cultivation regress. Even Lan Ting, a disciple of the Immortal Pce, took a Foundation Establishment Pill during her foundation establishment. She asked via telepathy, Did you use Foundation Establishment Pills when you were establishing your foundation? Lu Yang shook his head, Our philosophy on taking pills is quite advanced. During foundation establishment, we directly consume the raw materials of the Foundation Establishment Pill, using our bodies as the pill furnace to refine the materials, allowing the medicinal effects topletely dissolve into the meridians. Through research, we found that this method has the highest efficiency in absorbing the medicinal effects. The seventh elder of the Pill Cauldron Peak repeatedly established his foundation a hundred times when he was young to conclude this, so the data is absolutely reliable. At that time, the seventh elder also earned the title Strongest Foundation Establishment Stage. Later, because his foundation was too solid, the process of forming his Golden Core was exceptionally painful, like having gallstones. Lan Ting: While they were talking, the three Foundation Establishment Pills had already been auctioned off. Next up for auction is a transformation technique. The auctioneer brought out the book Lu Yang had just consigned. Lu Yang let out a soft exmation, speaking just loud enough for Chi Xulun to hear clearly, Could this book be the legendary one that hides Chi Xulun, previously uninterested in the book, suddenly became alert. (End of the chapter) Chapter 95: How Could the Undying Sect Possibly Have a Righteous Undercover Agent! Chapter 95: How Could the Undying Sect Possibly Have a Righteous Undercover Agent! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii A sighing sound came from the audience. Although the transformation technique was difficult to practice, it was quitemon and had no value for auction. Only a few people, like Lu Yang and Chi Xulun, did not sigh. The auctioneer continued, This book is not an ordinary transformation technique. During the transformation process, it can also be used to attack. If used inbat, I believe it could have an unexpected effect. People then showed some interest, but not much, as who uses a transformation technique inbat? The auctioneer reminded, It should be noted that this spell is extremely difficult to practice. Master Yang Xuanlun has said that although this book seems ordinary, it is far from simple as it appears on the surface! Lu Yang continued in a voice just loud enough for Chi Xulun to hear, Indeed, this book is too simr to the one described in the legends. Meng Jingzhou, sitting beside him, quickly and quietly said, Shut up, can you even say such things out loud? When will you get rid of this habit of talking to yourself! Startled, Lu Yang immediately closed his mouth and fixed his gaze on the transformation technique on the stage. Chi Xulun, observing Lu Yangs reaction from the corner of his eye, confirmed his suspicions to some extent. Starting price, one hundred spirit stones! This price was far lower than the normal rate for a transformation technique, it seemed even the Land of Gold Commerce was unsure about the pricing for the Shape-Imitating Fist. One hundred and ten! Someone quickly made a bid, considering the small amount of spirit stones worth it for something unique. One hundred and twenty! Chi Xulun casually called out, as if just throwing out a bid. One hundred and forty! One hundred and eighty! Two hundred! The price for the Shape-Imitating Fist skyrocketed. Eight hundred! Lu Yang called out. Meng Jingzhou quickly held Lu Yangs hand, Why are you bidding so high, do you want everyone to notice? I, I just didnt want it to be bought by someone else. Eight hundred spirit stones wasnt a lot, but that was for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Qi Cultivation cultivators couldnt just pull out eight hundred spirit stones easily. One thousand! A voice rose from beside Lu Yang. Surprised, Lu Yang looked at Chi Xulun, not understanding why the other wouldpete with him for this transformation technique. It was just a seemingly unique spell! Could the other party also have noticed something? But how could he have noticed? Lu Yang cursed internally, had his muttering been overheard? He whispered to Chi Xulun, Fellow Daoist, this spell seems to be a long-lost spell of our family. Could you let me have it? I will surely repay you generously after the auction ends! Chi Xulun sneered, a long-lost spell, who would believe that? There must be ancient secrets hidden within this spell! Shen Jinyi, sitting next to him, wanted to persuade him but seeing Chi Xuluns determined attitude, he said nothing further. Seeing that nice words were ineffective, Lu Yang bid, One thousand two hundred lower-grade spirit stones! Two thousand. Chi Xulun didnt even lift an eyelid, guessing Lu Yang definitely wasnt at the Foundation Establishment stage given his timid bidding. Lu Yang put up all his assets, Two thousand three hundred lower-grade spirit stones! Three thousand. Chi Xulun still wore an indifferent expression. Lu Yang borrowed money from Meng Jingzhou, Lend me a thousand spirit stones, Ill definitely return them next year! Okay. Meng Jingzhou agreed without hesitation. Three thousand three hundred lower-grade spirit stones! Four thousand! Lu Yang continued to borrow money, but he could never outbid the wealthy Chi Xulun. In the end, Chi Xulun won the transformation technique with a shocking price of eight thousand spirit stones. Lu Yang tearfully made a profit of eight thousand spirit stones, achieving a win-win situation, much to everyones delight. After the auction ended, as Lu Yang and his group were preparing to leave, just as they stepped out of the market area and arrived at the deserted foot of the mountain, they were blocked by Chi Xulun and Shen Jinyi. What do you want to do! Chi Xulun smiled cruelly, What do we want to do? Kid, dont y dumb. No one has ever tricked me! He took out the Lu Familys Transformation Technique and released his Foundation Establishment stage aura, Tell me, what ancient secret is hidden in this book! If you tell me, I can spare your lives. If you dare to lie, then dont me me for being ruthless! Chi Xulun had no intention of letting the four go, knowing that the fewer people who knew the ancient secret, the better. Moreover, Lan Ting was extremely beautiful, and he intended to y with her before killing her! In Chi Xuluns eyes, these four, unable to produce a few thousand spirit stones, were surely at the Qi Cultivation stage. Qi Cultivators had no chance of resistance against him! Lu Yang sighed, thinking of the hint given by Helmsman Chu to cause trouble during the Spring Festival. Had Helmsman Chu anticipated todays situation, suggesting he kill Chi Xulun and Shen Jinyi? Helmsman Chus Ingenious Calctions! Lu Yang removed his mask, revealing his true face: Chi Xulun, theres no need for us to be so stiff with each other. Saying this, he secretly took out a recording sphere. Lu Yang! You deserve to die! Chi Xulun became furious, instantly realizing that Lu Yang was mocking him. The auction was a y staged for him! There must be some misunderstanding between us, surely someone is stirring trouble behind our backs. How about this, lets go to Helmsman Chu and rify things. Even if you dont believe me, you should at least believe Helmsman Chu, right? Mentioning Helmsman Chu only made Chi Xulun angrier: You dare bring up Helmsman Chu, where do you get the nerve! Helmsman Chu must have been deceived by you to let you be an officer. What other viin, you are the viin! How am I the viin? Dont talk nonsense! Lu Yang argued vehemently. Chi Xulun sneered: Dont think I dont know about all the good things youve done! In front of Helmsman Chu, you act like a gentleman, but all youve done since joining the sect is to harm us. I see you as nothing but a righteous spy sent here! Of course, Chi Xuluns words were spoken in anger. If he truly believed Lu Yang was a righteous spy, he would have secretly monitored Lu Yang and gathered evidence long ago. Lu Yang sighed deeply, put away the shadow-capturing orb, and drew his three-foot green de, reluctantly saying, It seems there is only battle left between us. Chi Xulun and Shen Jinyi, with a hint of disdainful smiles, drew their weapons to face off. Meng Jingzhou, Barbarian Bone, and Lan Ting did the same. The battlemenced. Lu Yang brought the news of Chi Xulun and Shen Jinyis deaths to Helmsman Chu. No matter how strong Chi Xulun and Shen Jinyi were, they couldnt possibly survive against four Immortal Sect disciples. It was a one-sided crushing defeat, and the manner of their deaths was so gruesome that Lan Ting lost her appetite. Lu Yang took out the shadow-capturing orb and exined to Helmsman Chu, You know what Chi Xulun is like, he kills at the slightest disagreement. I recorded in advance just in case he came to you iming injustice, saying I bullied him. Now, it seems he wont being to you. The shadow-capturing orb had some issues and recorded intermittently, but fortunately, it can roughly reflect the situation at that time. Please have a look. Helmsman Chu, sitting on a jade chair, picked up the shadow-capturing orb and saw the scene. Chi Xulun, theres no need for us to be so stiff with each other. Lu Yang tried to ease the tension with Chi Xulun. Lu Yang! You deserve to die! Clearly, Chi Xulun was not receptive. There must be some misunderstanding between us, surely someone is stirring trouble behind our backs. How about this, lets go to Helmsman Chu and rify things. Even if you dont believe me, you should at least believe Helmsman Chu, right? Helmsman Chu where do you get the nerve! Helmsman Chu letting you be an officer you are the viin! How am I the viin? Dont talk nonsense! Lu Yang argued his case. Dont think I dont know he the good things hes done! Helmsman Chu acting like a gentleman all youve done since joining the sect is to harm us I see just a righteous spy sent here! The recording ended there, leaving Helmsman Chu grinding his teeth in anger. Lu Yang, filled with righteous indignation, said, Helmsman, youve been kind to me. We in the Demonic Path have our own pride and gratitude. Seeing Chi Xulun falsely using you and Shen Jinyi not stopping him, I was enraged. In a fit of anger, I, along with Meng Jingzhou and the others, killed them! Its not suitable to record during a fight, so I put away the shadow-capturing orb. Naturally, Lu Yang wouldnt let Helmsman Chu know about their fighting style. Helmsman Chu praised loudly, and one could even sense his anger towards Chi Xulun: Well done! Those two beasts deserved their deaths! Helmsman Chu knew of Chi Xuluns dissatisfaction with him. He had called Chi Xulun over for guidance, considering his talents, and Chi Xulun had expressed loyalty in front of him, iming he would do better than Lu Yang. Now, it seemed Chi Xulun still harbored resentment, even fabricating absurd ims like being a righteous undercover agent. How could the Undying Sect possibly have a righteous undercover agent! Lu Yang, youve removed two major threats for our sect. Well done! When the inspector arrives, Ill be sure to speak highly of you! (End of the chapter) Chapter 96: The Long Holiday Chapter 96: The Long Holiday Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Also, Ive received a message from the inspector. He said he has long heard of the Spring Harvest Festival and has advanced his schedule to arrive in Yanjiang County during the festival. You should be prepared and not show any weakness in front of the inspector. Previously, the inspector had said he woulde to Yanjiang County after the Spring Harvest Festival. Yes. When Lu Yang left the branch, he encountered Wang He, Bai Zifang, and other stewardsing towards him. Wang He and the others nodded slightly in greeting. This newly promoted steward, Lu Yang, was a favorite of Helmsman Chu in front of him; they couldnt afford to offend him. Wang He and the others had been working in the branch for decades and knew some things. They spected that Helmsman Chu directly appointed Lu Yang and the other two because of their high evaluation during the induction test, especially Lu Yang, who might have the highest evaluation among them. Wang He whispered, The helmsman has always been a person who doesnt get up early for no benefit. He probably knows that Lu Yang will rise and wants to build a good rtionship with him before Lu Yang bes influential, to facilitate his future promotion. They knew that what the helmsman wanted most was to be promoted to a more economically developed area as a helmsman, so he particrly valued the uing inspector. Maybe he called us here this time rted to the inspector. But speaking of which, doesnt the helmsman stillck a condition for promotion? Has he reached the Nascent Soul stage? Promotion within the sect is not only about the faith in the Immortal of Undying but also about cultivation level. Who knows? Maybe he has already reached it and just hasnt told us. He never exins his actions to us, and we dont know the purpose behind them. Helmsman Chus style is also the style of the entire demonic sect, filled with distrust. Although Helmsman Chu seems to trust Lu Yang, in reality, he doesnt. Helmsman Chu has never revealed any information about his rtionship with Lu Yang. Lu Yang knows very little about Helmsman Chu. The Spring Harvest Festival arrived as scheduled, and the barbecue shops customer flow reached its peak. Several foreign merchants have noticed the business opportunity of the barbecue shop and proposed to Lu Yang to open branches. Lu Yang would provide the recipes, and they would provide the capital. Without exception, all were sternly rejected by Lu Yang. Some cultivators wanted to dine and dash but, seeing the three silk banners hanging on the wall, swallowed this impractical idea and paid honestly. With the help of the automatic barbecue array, the two hungry ghosts had more time to thread skewers. Thus, even with more customers than usual, the barbecue shop was able to operate smoothly. Lets go to the barbecue shop again Yes, this one. My aunt told me this barbecue shop is especially delicious. If youe to Yanjiang County, you must try it! Look, now the shop is running a promotion. If you consume here, you can get a voucher to receive a 10% discount at the tofu shop on Front Street. Consumers who spend more than one silver tael can participate in the lucky spin once. The number of attempts can umte, unlimited, and prizes are limited, firste first serve. Lets go and try. The two reached a consensus and lined up at the end of the queue, not knowing how long they would have to wait to eat. At the entrance of the barbecue shop, Meng Jingzhou was busy with the lucky spin, bustling with activity. The big spin wheel had options like y Again, Third Prize, Second Prize, First Prize, Grand Prize. Congrattions to this customer for winning the second prize, 40% off this consumption! Lets congratte him! Meng Jingzhou pped enthusiastically, seeming even happier than the winner. First prize, a first prize has appeared, this customers entire consumption is free! A grand prize, someone actually got the grand prize! The customer couldnt believe he had won the grand prize and asked cheerfully, Whats the grand prize? Meng Jingzhou, holding the customers hand with enthusiasm, said, Congrattions, youve won the opportunity to experience being a waiter at our shop! Normally, people pay to experience the joy ofboring as a waiter here, but youre lucky, you get to experience it without spending a dime! Considering the smoky and harsh environment in the backyard, our professional staff will bring the skewers to the entrance of the backyard, so you wont have to go there! Meng Jingzhou had an expression of thoughtful consideration, as if saying theres no need to praise us. Customer: Can I exchange it for the first prize? No. The customer declined the reward of the grand prize. Up to this point, Meng Jingzhou hadnt managed to persuade anyone to enjoy the treatment of the grand prize, but he enjoyed the process of tricking people. Inside the barbecue shop, Lu Yang, carrying a tray, moved back and forth. He was light on his feet, agile, and his lower body was extremely stable, keeping the tray level and the skewers from shaking. He didnt bump into any customers, a testament to his skill. After more than a month of life as a waiter, his stepping skills had greatly improved. Ma Gongcao, Chi Zhubu, hows the food? Lu Yang greeted two customers with a smile. These two were local officials who often came here for skewers and drinks. Its as delicious as always. Shop Owner Lu, your skills are wasted here. You should open a shop in a bigger county. Youd definitely earn more! Go on, stop talking nonsense. Havent you heard that the Shop Owner Lu doesnt even want to open a branch? Its clear he opened this shop out of interest, not intending to make money. Lu Yang could only offer a polite smile: Enjoy the Spring Harvest Festival. Both were clearly drunk, with flushed cheeks and staggering, Ma Gongcao grumbled: Speaking of the Spring Harvest Festival makes me angry. It was supposed to be a seven-day holiday, a long holiday. I dont know whose bright idea it was to shorten the Spring Harvest Festival holiday to three days! What can you do in three days? They even call it a mini long holiday. Listen to this term, does it make any sense? Adding a mini before long holiday, does it still count as a long holiday! I wish the person who came up with this term a mini long life!'' Chi Zhubu quickly covered Ma Gongcaos mouth: You cant say things like that recklessly. You arrivedte, its normal not to know, but this was the idea of City Governor Li! Ma Gongcao snorted: So it was him. Not much talent, but plenty of ideas! Chi Zhubu, who was more informed, whispered: Keep it down. Now is not the time to speak ill of City Governor Li. I heard that City Governor Li has found a way and recently captured three vicious demonic cultivators in the county. Its a great achievement, and hes about to be promoted. The chief bailiff Fang Qingyun will take his ce! Ma Gongcao scoffed, showing disdain for City Governor Li, but knowing City Governor Li wouldnt care about someone like him: A few days ago, a colleagueined to me, saying City Governor Li issued random orders, making the magistrate office work overtime in the early morning to nt small gs everywhere, with not a single mistake allowed. He even supervised the work himself, pretending to be diligent. He, being in the Golden Core stage, might not need to sleep, but others do. Many magistrate office workers fell asleep while working! Lu Yang poured wine for the two: Ill go attend to other things. Go ahead, shop owner Lu, dont mind us. On the first night of the Spring Harvest Festival, the four men and two ghosts were exhausted to the point of copsing. Before going to sleep, Barbarian Bone remembered: It seems ghosts dont need to sleep. Should we arrange work for them at night too? (End of the chapter) Chapter 97: What Was That Saying About Marking a Boat for...? Chapter 97: What Was That Saying About Marking a Boat for? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Originally, Lan Ting was ustomed to recing sleep with meditation at night, but since joining the barbecue shop, she developed the good habit of sleeping at night. When the four woke up, they feltpletely refreshed and invigorated, thanks in part to the formation Lan Ting had set up. Lets go out and have fun, I havent had enough! Meng Jingzhou, the most energetic, practically dragged Lu Yang out of bed like herding a pig. Lu Yang kicked Meng Jingzhou before getting up unwillingly. Barbarian Bone went to the market early to buy groceries, as he was the earliest riser. Barbarian Bone made a pot of dumpling soup, added four eggs, a few drops of sesame oil, filling the entire hall with a fragrant aroma. Lu Yang, who liked vinegar, added a small spoonful to his bowl of dumpling soup. After eating their fill, the four set out, feeling refreshed and energetic. They left home rtively early, yet the streets were already filled with tourists. Lu Yang heard that inns had been booked solid, and many chose to stay in guesthouses. Peoples faces were filled with joyful smiles, and children wore tofu masks just like Lu Yangs, holding big pinwheels and jumping around. Parents held their childrens hands tightly, fearing they might get lost. Its as lively here as at a temple fair. Have you heard? Someone brought a huge creature from the south of the continent. Its by the river, lets go check it out! someone excitedly told theirpanion. Hearing this, Meng Jingzhou couldnt suppress his curiosity and led the three to the river to see the huge creature. The four arrived at the familiar big stone bridge, only this time they stood on top of it, and small gs filled both sides of the bridge. Seeing the huge creature, Meng Jingzhou was somewhat disappointed: I thought it was something else, turns out its just an elephant. By the Yinchuan River, this area was already a popr spot for visitors every year. Now, with someone bringing an elephant from the south of the continent to show off, even more curious onlookers gathered. Lu Yang, needless to say, had seen elephants before. Meng Jingzhou and Lan Ting,ing from noble families, had seen more exotic and strange things since childhood than Lu Yang had ever heard of. Barbarian Bone, living in the wilderness, had even hunted elephants before. Ordinary people didnt have the experiences of Lu Yang and his friends, and were very interested in such arge animal as the elephant. Visitors marveled: Is this a demon beast? Its so big, and it has such a long nose and tusks? The elephants owner, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, exined: It indeed is a demon beast. Its difficult to assess the realm of demon beasts, but its roughly equivalent to the sixth level of Qi cultivation. However, its size has nothing to do with being a demon beast. Creatures like this are called elephants and grow this big when they reach adulthood. Visitors continued to ask, How heavy is such arge creature? The owner of the elephantughed, who would know? Theres no scalerge enough to weigh it. Another visitor suggested, Were right next to the river. We could put the elephant on arge boat, make a mark where the boat touches the water, then load the boat with stones or something. When the marked spot touches the water again, we weigh the stones to find out how heavy the elephant is. (TL Note: This is based off a story called Cao Ceng Weighs the Elephant, its more of a childrens story, I remember seeing it in my textbook as a kid lol. https://.youtube/watch?v=RHB2hDKj5rE) The owner, curious about the weight of his spiritual pet, happily agreed. Under the ownersmand, the elephant was driven onto the boat. The elephant was too heavy, and the boat in the shallow area couldnt carry it, so the owner rowed to the middle of the river. Taking out a knife, he made a mark at the waterline. Just as the owner was about to swim back, the elephant, by chance, nced up and saw Barbarian Bone, which scared it tremendously. Demon beasts are most sensitive to aura, and the ancient barbarian tribes often hunted elephants in the wilderness. This ferocious killing aura flows in their blood, and though the elephant does not understand the meaning behind it, it feels an inherent chill in its presence around Barbarian Bone, a suppression stemming from their bloodline. The elephant panicked and with a ssh, fell into the water, sinking to the bottom. People on the shore eximed, urging the elephants owner to quickly save it. However, the owner calmly made a mark where the elephant fell into the water, saying, This is where the elephant fell in. The people on the shore were puzzled, and the owner did not exin further until they were close to the shore. Then, pointing at the mark, he exined, My elephant fell in here, and its still here! Everyoneughed, thinking he was joking, but then the river surface churned, creating a whirlpool, and the elephant truly emerged, pping itsrge ears, flying up from below the mark. A special product from the southern part of the continent, the Flying Elephant. Barbarian Bone witnessed this scene, his brow furrowed, then suddenly realized, hitting his palm with his fist, I remember now, we learned this idiom in ss, this is called Mark the Boat for a Dropped Elephant! (TL Note: The original idiom is , which is Mark the Boat for a Dropped Sword its a story where the exact same situation happens but with a normal sword instead of a flying elephant. While on a moving boat, the owner drops his sword and marks the spot where he dropped it, thinking to retrieve it after which doesnt work since the boat has since moved on. This is a link to an exnation https://blog.csoftintl/ke-zhou-qiu-jian-idiom-about-silly-solutions/) He now had a profound understanding of this idiom. Lu Yang: What exactly did you learn in ss? Meng Jingzhouughed, I still remember when we found the first Life-Draining Talisman under the bridge. When we first learned about the existence of the Life-Draining Talisman, it really shocked us. Luckily, the person was already reported by us. Just as Lu Yang was about to joke along with Meng Jingzhous words, he suddenly saw the small gs in front of him, his smile fading as if he remembered something. He pulled out a small g, frowning, and examined it closely in the sunlight. When Lu Yang saw what the small g looked like in the sunlight, he felt a chill in his heart. Whats wrong? Meng Jingzhou noticed Lu Yangs expression. He had been waiting for Lu Yangs banter, only to find Lu Yang acting unusually. Lu Yang, with a grave expression, pointed at the faint pattern on the g, Look at this pattern, what does it look like? A Life-Draining Talisman?! Lan Ting was the first to react, as she was most familiar with the pattern. Meng Jingzhous eyes widened. The pattern on the g was very faint, invisible unless seen against the sunlight. Even if it could be seen, the tourists would just consider it a Spring Harvest Festival specialty. How many people would recognize the pattern of the Life-Draining Talisman? Dont panic, maybe the Life-Draining Array hasnt beenpleted yet! Meng Jingzhou tried to convince himself not to panic. Lu Yang analyzed calmly, Impossible, dont forget, its not just one or two gs, the entire Yanjiang County is filled with these gs! The gs with the Life-Draining Talisman pattern hidden among ordinary gs, who could have thought of that?! Lu Yang continued, In other words, the Life-Draining Array is alreadypleted, tantly disyed in front of everyone, but no one noticed! Why hasnt the Life-Draining Array been activated then? Meng Jingzhou recalled the conditions for activating the Life-Draining Array. Besides arranging the Life-Draining Talismans into a formation, it also required blood as a sacrifice. The person daring to set up the Life-Draining Array could easily kill a few people; what is he waiting for? Lu Yang said coldly, Hes waiting for more people. The number of people during the Spring Harvest Festival isnt enough yet, and more and more people are continuously heading towards Yanjiang County! The Life-Draining Array, plundering the lifespan of mortals to enhance the cultivators own cultivation. The more mortals plundered, the greater the boost to cultivation! Meng Jingzhou also remembered, ording to tradition, on the second night of the Spring Harvest Festival, people gather in the streets to sing, converge by the river for feasts, and hold singingpetitions! Today is the second day of the Spring Harvest Festival! (End of the chapter) Chapter 98: The Backup Plan Chapter 98: The Backup n Seeing more and more people gathering on the big stone bridge, Lu Yang suggested they first leave the area and find a secluded ce. The four arrived at a quiet forest. Lu Yang took out a map of Yanjiang County, marking the previously deduced nodes of the Life-draining Array: The nodes for the Life-draining Array should be the same as before. Before that, I want to confirm something, Lan Ting, when you mentioned blood as a sacrifice, does it mean killing people at the nodes, or using cultivators essence blood as a sacrifice to activate the formation? Lan Ting didnt understand what Lu Yang meant: Both methods are feasible, but usually, the former is used. Killing people only requires the death of mortals, using too much essence blood from cultivators will affect their cultivation and is detrimental to future cultivation. Lu Yang thoughtfully said, Then, the person who set up the formation would likely use the second method. The three were puzzled; the person who set up the formation must be a demonic cultivator, for whom killing people would naturally be more convenient than using essence blood. Who do you think has the capability to hide the Life-draining Array in small gs and finish setting it up overnight, using the cover of night so that even if people felt tired, no one would suspect anything? Meng Jingzhou instantly realized, Someone from the government, and with high authority! Lu Yang nodded, Correct, to be precise, the county governor! What! This revtion shocked Barbarian Bone and Lan Ting, while Meng Jingzhou, having anticipated this, reacted less strongly. He had said upon entering Yanjiang County that it was not umon for the government and demonic paths to collude. Last night, I heard from someone in the government that when setting up the small gs, City Governor Li personally supervised the process, insisting that the cement of the gs must be precise. Does such a task require the county governors involvement? Even using the excuse of being dedicated and serving the people seems far-fetched! This can only mean City Governor Li used the small gs to set up the Life-draining Array that covers the entire county! Barbarian Bone had a sudden realization, feeling the world was truly dark: So, the undercover agent nted by the branch in Yanjiang County is City Governor Li. Given City Governor Lis cultivation level and status, should we say its more of a partnership? Lu Yang shook his head, Not an undercover agent, nor a partner. I suspect Helmsman Chu and City Governor Li are the same person! Direct evidence I have none, but there are two suspicious points. First is the timing of Helmsman Chus summons. Its always at night. I and other stewards have inquired about this, and they say its not the same in other branches. Second, both Helmsman Chu and City Governor Li are aiming for promotion, almost at the same time. Barbarian Bone gasped, the world was darker than he thought. If Helmsman Chu and City Governor Li were the same person, wouldnt that mean ying both sides? Of course, they might be two different people; these are just spections. But regardless of the scenario, the method to activate the Life-draining Array would definitely not be killing mortals! Barbarian Bone still didnt quite understand, so Meng Jingzhou exined, City Governor Li aims for promotion. If a vicious killing urred during the Spring Harvest Festival, would he still expect to be promoted? Even if he had connections, those above couldnt tantly allow his promotion. Moreover, with the status of the county governor, obtaining essence blood from cultivators wouldnt be difficult; just pick a few cultivators from the prison. Lan Ting still had some doubts, Are City Governor Li and Yizhang Hong setting up Life-draining Arrays a coincidence or rted? I think theres a big connection. After understanding the rtionship between Helmsman Chu and City Governor Li, Lu Yang had new perspectives on many things. Not to mention the political impact on City Governor Li of capturing three Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators, if there was no branch presence, a small county would have only so many Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators, effectively eliminating the leadership of demonic cultivators in a county. After the Life-draining Array is activated, it might not be apparent at first, but over time, people are bound to notice something off. If Yizhang Hong hadnt acted first, the government would vigorously pursue the culprit, exposing both the Yanjiang branch and City Governor Li to risk. City Governor Li cleverly arranged for Yizhang Hong. With Yizhang Hong setting up the Life-draining Array first, even if City Governor Li activates the Life-draining Array and reduces the lifespan of mortals, the government would only focus on Yizhang Hong. Barbarian Bone was surprised, But Yizhang Hong didnt seed. Lu Yang sneered, Not seeding was just Yizhang Hongs side of the story. Its entirely possible that he did activate the formation but messed up, only reducing lifespan without enhancing his cultivation. After all, it was an unfamiliar formation; anything could happen. Barbarian Bone still couldnt understand, But Yizhang Hongs twopanions could also confirm it wasnt sessful. Lu Yang said, Companions? Whatpanions do demonic cultivators have, they just use each other. It makes sense for Yizhang Hong not to tell those two the truth. With such a ready-made suspect, who else would be suspected if not Yizhang Hong? Moreover, with Yizhang Hongs numerous crimes, hes certainly facing the death penalty. Perhaps by the time the government realizes the Life-draining Array was activated, Yizhang Hong would have already been executed. With Yizhang Hong as the target, who would suspect City Governor Li? Meng Jingzhou and Lan Ting nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Lu Yangs perspective. Lu Yang then asked, Also, are there seven nodes requiring blood sacrifice? Lan Ting looked at Lu Yang in surprise, nodding without understanding how he knew. Didnt he say he didnt understand formations? Yesterday, when I left, I encountered seven stewards summoned by Helmsman Chu on short notice, probably for a task. I guess it was to arrange for them to take essence blood to the formation nodes and wait for the right moment. This way, tell us more about the Life-draining Array. Lan Ting did not refuse and circled seven spots on the map of Yanjiang County, These seven ces are key to activating the array, near scenic spots in Yanjiang County, with the arrays core at the mid-slope of Song Mountain! To breakthrough using the Life-draining Array, of course, a secluded location is chosen. Lets remove some Life-draining Talismans first to prevent the formation from activating. However, doing so might attract Helmsman Chus attention. Rather than waiting for him toe to us, its better toy an ambush and catch him off guard, said Lu Yang. Lu Yang was worried about a fight with Helmsman Chu, which is why he didnt leave any record of theirbat style in the memory orb. All three felt the challenge, as it would be a do-or-die battle. Helmsman Chu, being at thete stage of Golden Core, was extremely difficult to deal with. Can we report this to the authorities, tell Fang Qingyun about it? asked Barbarian Bone. Lu Yang shook his head, If Fang Qingyun learns about the formation on the small gs, he will definitely suspect City Governor Li. If City Governor Li gets caught, our identities as members of the demonic cult will be exposed. Lan Ting hesitated, Just the four of us against ate-stage Golden Core cultivator, it might be difficult to take him down. Lu Yang was confident, Dont worry, well be fully prepared. If all else fails, I still have a backup n. What is it? Eldest Senior Sister Shape-Imitating Fist! Upon hearing this, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bones faces went pale. Lan Ting, noticing their reaction, was puzzled, Whats Eldest Senior Sister Shape-Imitating Fist? Its the ultimate technique of the Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist! Lu Yang said confidently. Lan Ting nodded, somewhat understanding. (End of the chapter) Chapter 99: The Most Powerful Weapon of the Commerce Chapter 99: The Most Powerful Weapon of the Commerce Fang Qingyun yawned out of sheer boredom, with less than half an hour to go until the grand festivities of the Spring Harvest Festival. Fortunately, they had made early preparations, and various emergency ns were in ce, so far, the festival had gone without a hitch. During the day, Fang Qingyun heard about the elephant falling into the water and then flying out. He sent someone to warn that flying was not allowed in the county without permission, as it was too dangerous. Additionally, bringing a demon beast into the city without registration was forbidden, so the elephants owner obediently went to register the animal. Fang Qingyun dealt with such minor matters throughout the day. Hopefully, there wont be any trouble tonight, no one starting a bonfire causing a forest fire, no stampede because of watching ys, no fights over jealousy in the streets Fang Qingyun rambled on, listing idents that had urred in past years. Qingyun, Im leaving now. City Governor Li bid farewell to Fang Qingyun before leaving. Take care. Fang Qingyun showed more respect than usual to City Governor Li, having heard that he could take over City Governor Lis position thanks to Lis good word. He couldnt forget this favor. Normally, City Governor Li wouldnt need toe during the Spring Harvest Festival, but being seen working hard could enhance his reputation. City Governor Li always cared about his reputation, discovering that speaking well made promotion easier than actual work. Promotion also required reaching a certain cultivation level, an unspoken rule of the bureaucracy. Soon, once I advance to the Nascent Soul stage today, both my identities, as county governor and helmsman, will change. Thinking of this, City Governor Li quickened his pace. He entered a small alley, changed his face, and then put on a mask. This way, even if someone took off the mask, they would assume that was his true face and wouldnt suspect the identity of City Governor Li. Walking between the righteous and demonic paths, caution was necessary. With his talent, he was not supposed to advance past thete Golden Core stage, but mingling in both righteous and demonic paths allowed him ess to resources beyond what ordinary people could imagine, enabling him to reach his current status. Recently, he hit a bottleneck, realizing the normal methods wouldnt allow him to reach the Nascent Soul stage. To advance both his status and cultivation level, he thought of the Life-draining Array. Its strange, the inspector should have arrived in Yanjiang County before noon today, but theres no sign of him yet? City Governor Li, no, with the mask on, he was Helmsman Chu, was somewhat dissatisfied with the inspectors tardiness. He had specifically told the inspector toe before noon today, promising a surprise. The surprise was to activate the Life-draining Array with the inspector, simultaneously boosting their cultivation levels. Could there have been an ident? I specifically waited for the most crowded moment to activate the formation. Well, if he doesnte, then Ill just elevate my cultivation level alone. Song Mountain was secluded, with trees growing wildly, and the mountain paths were worn by travelers. Peopleing to the Spring Harvest Festival wouldnt find Song Mountain appealing. Helmsman Chu concealed his aura as he walked towards Song Mountain, encountering fewer and fewer tourists. By the time he reached the base of Song Mountain, there was no one around. Finally, he stopped at a t area, surrounded by trees on which hung talismans slightly different from the ordinary Life-draining Talismans, serving as the arrays focal points. He sat cross-legged, adjusted his state, and quietly awaited the moment the array would activate. He had instructed six stewards to perform the blood sacrifice task, calcting the timing to be just right! Life-draining Array, activate! Helmsman Chu raised his hands towards the sky, initiating the formation. Centered on him, the silent power of the formation spread outward, reaching a certain point and then abruptly stopping. Someone removed the gs! Helmsman Chu momentarily lost focus, quickly realizing what had happened. This wasnt a random act of removing one or two gs; the person definitely had knowledge of the Life-draining Array, or they wouldnt have removed them so precisely. Who is it! Someone from the government? No, thats impossible; nothing in the government escapes my notice. An unknown traveler, or perhaps Lu Yang, who has seen the Life-draining Array before! Lu Yangs actions were unusual, making him capable of doing such a thing! Helmsman Chus gaze turned cold; this was equivalent to cutting off his own path, even more painful than killing him! Oh, am I such a person in your eyes, Helmsman Chu? Lu Yangszy voice sounded nearby. Lu Yang! Seeing Lu Yang, Helmsman Chus anger surged, Dont think just because the sect leader favors you, I cant kill you. Itsmon for demonic cultivators to die by ident. Give me a reason for doing this! After thinking, Lu Yang seriously said, Didnt you say to cause trouble during the Spring Harvest Festival? I thought the biggest trouble would be to take down the county governor. It just so happens, after following the county governor for several days, we discovered you are the governor. I thought about seeing things through, might as well take you down, following our demonic sects tradition of rebellion. Lu Yang said with a smile. Youre seeking death! Helmsman Chu was furious. How could I? I still wish for eternal life. A mere Foundation Establishment stage dares to talk big here, die! Helmsman Chu, enraged,unched a palm strike with terrifying power, turning the trees it touched to dust! Lu Yang used a technique to quickly move away, avoiding the strike. Helmsman Chu stomped on the ground, turning it upside down, and Lu Yang was thrown out. Lu Yang was startled; this is the power of ate-stage Golden Core cultivator, kicking him out with a single foot. Quite troublesome. Helmsman Chu, like thunder, quickly approached Lu Yang, preparing to strike with his fists. Lu Yang positioned his sword in front of him, ready to slice off Helmsman Chus fist if he dared to strike. Helmsman Chu immediately withdrew his fist,unching a kick instead. Anticipating this, Lu Yang also kicked out, using the force to propel himself away. Helmsman Chu attacked again but found he couldnt muster any spiritual power, as if it was locked away. A Spirit-Sealing Formation, just like the prison! You do understand formations! Helmsman Chu red at Lu Yang. Although he couldnt use spiritual power, his physical defense was strong enough that Lu Yang couldnt harm him. The Spirit-Sealing Formation was temporarily set up by Lan Ting, with Lu Yangs goal to lure Helmsman Chu here. Lu Yang smiled and waved goodbye to Helmsman Chu. Helmsman Chu looked around, noticing nothing unusual. He suddenly looked up to see a flying boat hovering above. The flying boat Meng Jingzhou had just purchased from themerce. Now it was night, and in the darkness of Song Mountain, Helmsman Chu hadnt noticed he was under a shadow. Spiritual power couldnt be used above the Spirit-Sealing Formation, causing the flying boat to lose power and crash down rapidly, with Meng Jingzhou jumping down with a parachute. The boat was toorge, and with Helmsman Chu unable to use spiritual power, he couldnt dodge in time. Lu Yang calcted the distance and moved to a safe spot. The flying boat, like a meteor, crashed down, hitting Helmsman Chu! Boom! The impact stirred up endless dust, creating a thunderous noise that shook the entire Song Mountain. The boat seemed to be loaded with explosives, detonating upon impact, sending mes soaring into the sky, deafeningly loud! Lu Yang gave Meng Jingzhou a thumbs up, Money talks, buying a flying boat on the spot! Meng Jingzhou also gave a thumbs up, If the merchant had more than one flying boat, I would have bought several! No treasure from themerce could match the power of a flying boat crashing down directly. Fang Qingyun, who was appreciating the peaceful moments, was startled by the crashing flying boat, nearly having a heart attack. Are you kidding me?! (End of the chapter) Chapter 100: Is This the Surprise? Chapter 100: Is This the Surprise? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii At the site of the flying boat crash, dust filled the air, and Helmsman Chus mask shattered, revealing his true identity as City Governor Li, no longer bothering to maintain his transformation technique. His left arm was bleeding and dangling uselessly, clearly disabled. Meng Jingzhounded, dissatisfied with the oue, If only we had another flying boat. Helmsman Chu took a deep breath, about to make some cursory remarks, when he suddenly started coughing violently, blood creeping into the corners of his eyes, This smoke is poisonous! He quickly held his breath, furious inside. True to form for natural-born demonic cultivators and a heaven-sent demonic child working together: first, they trapped him with a Spirit-Sealing Formation, then attacked him with a flying boat, loaded with explosives used for mining. After the explosion, even the smoke contained poison. You two are really something, one trick after another! Initially, Helmsman Chu doubted whether Lu Yang was an undercover agent sent by the righteous path, destroying the Life-draining Array only because it harmed others for personal gain, maybe the sect leader was mistaken. Now, seeing this borate setup, he wouldnt believe Lu Yang was an undercover agent even if he imed to be! The crash of the flying boat destroyed the Spirit-Sealing Formation, allowing Helmsman Chu to regain his spiritual power. However, he had to divert some of it to suppress the poison that had infiltrated his body. Under normal circumstances, he could expel the poison in a few moments, but now, Lu Yang and hispanion gave him no such time. Meng Jingzhou, his body turning bronze as if a tiger descending the mountain, roared through the forest. Shake the Heavens Six Forms! This was the secret technique of the third elder, of which Meng Jingzhou had only learned the basics. With his blood and energy surging, his fists unleashed one after another with explosive force, creating a thunderous impact aimed directly at Helmsman Chus face. Despite his injuries, Helmsman Chu, ate-stage Golden Core cultivator, blocked Meng Jingzhous punches with just one hand. Lu Yang, like an assassin with his Qingfeng sword, silently appeared behind Helmsman Chu. With lightning-fast reflexes, Helmsman Chu kicked backwards, sending Lu Yang flying again. Barbarian Bone caught Lu Yang and spun around, hurling him back into the fray. Lu Yang, transformed into a sharp sword, pierced the air with his Qingfeng sword aimed at Helmsman Chus neck! Helmsman Chu deflected Meng Jingzhou with a palm, spun around, and used his elbow and knee to trap the sharp Qingfeng sword! Activating a trace of ancient barbarian bloodline, Barbarian Bones physique expanded, his muscles and tendons bulging with power, charging like a wild elephant with overwhelming force! Helmsman Chu smirked, thinking, how could they overpower ate-stage Golden Core cultivator like him? Just as Barbarian Bone collided with Helmsman Chu, he flipped his palm, throwing several sharp bamboo sticks aimed at Helmsman Chus eyes. Helmsman Chu closed his eyes and turned his head to dodge the bamboo sticks. Another set of bamboo sticks appeared behind him. Hearing them, Helmsman Chu activated his Golden Core, forming a golden film over his body to block the stealthy bamboo sticks. He turned to see the bamboo sticks werent thrown by anyone but wereunched automatically by a formation. It was Lan Tings newly developed automatic skewering formation at its maximum output. Lu Yang had Lan Ting assist from the shadows, applying both psychological and physical pressure on Helmsman Chu. You all will die! Helmsman Chu took out a bright red g from his storage ring, soaked in blood and exuding malevolence. The temperature around dropped as the g appeared, and Lu Yang and hispanions faintly heard ghostly wails. Cant you use some proper weapons? Always with these creepy things! Lu Yang spat out a mouthful of blood, his swordy fluid as a diving dragon, using a technique to move underground swiftly, suddenly emerging from beneath Helmsman Chu! Helmsman Chu stepped back, the g shing with the sword, emitting a metallic ng. Lu Yang danced with his sword, fast and slow, extraordinarily agile. Shake the Heavens Six Forms reemerged, with Meng Jingzhouing to support, his punches thunderous, nearly destabilizing Helmsman Chu with several hits on the gpole. Large trees fell from the sky, and Barbarian Bone roared, smashing a massive log at Helmsman Chu! Fire Dragon Talisman! A light reprimand came from the forest, and Lan Ting, using blood as ink, quickly drew a talisman. A red fire dragon, with bared fangs and ws, scorched the air, diluting the eerie atmosphere brought by the bright red g. Theres a fourth person! Helmsman Chu red, gritting his teeth. Lu Yang, that traitor, really came well-prepared. Stabilize the Waves! Helmsman Chu gripped the gpole tightly and mmed it into the ground, shouting loudly. The sound wave and air wave rolled out, knocking down the three attackers and dispersing the fire dragon! Helmsman Chu went mad, his eyes bloodshot. If it werent for the initial blow from the flying boat, and the need to divert spiritual power to suppress the severe poison, he wouldnt have been so passive! He leaped up, aiming the gpole at Barbarian Bone, who was lying on the ground. Barbarian Bone tried to dodge, but it was toote; he only managed to move half his body before the gpole pierced through his shoulder de. Barbarian Bones teeth bled, but he didnt cry out in pain! The ancient barbarians feared neither pain nor death! Helmsman Chu, relentless, attempted to stomp on Barbarian Bones head to crush it. Meng Jingzhou took the opportunity to throw a magical weapon and shouted angrily. The weapon exploded, knocking Helmsman Chu off bnce and into the air. Barbarian Bone, pinned to the ground by the pole, was unharmed. Meng Jingzhou had many treasures at hand, but their grades were too high for either driving or self-destructing them to be feasible. Helmsman Chu kicked a boulder, rebounding towards Meng Jingzhou while pulling out the g, aiming to sweep him off his feet. The Qingfeng sword appeared precisely in front of Helmsman Chu, deflecting the g, as Lu Yang once again engaged Helmsman Chu inbat. Lu Yang demonstrated his mastery of spells, bing smaller every time Helmsman Chu was about to hit him, infuriating Helmsman Chu. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone regrouped for another attack, while Lan Ting simultaneously drew talismans with both hands, summoning water and fire dragons that intertwined and lunged at Helmsman Chu. Helmsman Chu could no longer tolerate this humiliation. PLan Ting the gpole into the ground, the g fluttered like waves in the sea, emitting sounds of ghostly howls and wolf cries from the g, disorienting everyones mind. Ghostly Chaos! The ghostly sounds had an indescribable magic, freezing the four in ce, feeling as if ghosts entangled their bodies, rendering them immobile. Meng Jingzhou tensed, trying to shout to everyone that it was an illusion, but he couldnt move or speak. Helmsman Chuughed loudly, using his trump card reluctantly, as it seemed to cheapen his abilities. Pushed to the edge by the four, he didnt care to hide his ace anymore, determined to kill them all to regain his dignity! Break. The Qingfeng sword fell from the sky, swift as lightning. Before Helmsman Chu could react, it pierced through his head. Helmsman Chu looked at Lu Yang in disbelief. He saw Lu Yangs eyes clear, his mouth curved in a mocking smile,pletely unaffected by the illusion! How can you still move how is this possible Helmsman Chu fell backward, blood flowing from his seven orifices. Lu Yang aimed another sword at the dantian, pulverizing Helmsman Chus Golden Core, ensuring his death. Lu Yang had no interest in exining to a dead man that this was a technique he created under the guidance of Eldest Senior Sister, Enlightenment of Heart and Nature Technique, which could uphold ones true heart and discern the essence of things. Still in the early stages of cultivation, he couldnt discern the essence of things yet, but being unaffected by illusions and dreams cast by higher-level cultivators was within his capabilities. The inspector, dyed by misceneous tasks, wasing from the neighboring county. Just over the mountain ridge of Song Mountain, standing on the outskirts of the battlefield, he saw Lu Yang stab Helmsman Chu to death. He recalled Helmsman Chus words, I have a surprise for you, The newly recruited Lu Yang is a rare talent, bound to shine during the Spring Harvest Festival. Is this the surprise Helmsman Chu mentioned? In his hundred years of life, the inspector had never encountered such a surprise. (End of the chapter) Chapter 101: Talking Nonsense Comes Naturally Chapter 101: Talking Nonsense Comes Naturally Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Tang Yuansheng, male, 102 years old, at the Nascent Soul stage of cultivation, currently holds the position of Inspector for the Undying Sect. Upon receiving a message from Helmsman Chu toe earlier, he decided to advance his schedule. He first arrived at Qinghuai County, which is only separated by one mountain from Yanjiang County. Crossing this mountain, well reach the location Little Chu mentioned. (TL Note: I dont think Ive exined it before but in chinese, little + their surname is a way you can address someone and its a term of endearment. Its usually used by seniors to their juniors.) Hm? Suddenly, Tang Yuansheng sensed a peculiar fluctuation of aura, What is this aura? Following the sensation, he arrived at a stable in a posthouse. Inside the stable, an old horse with dragon scales on its forehead and a brown mare were nestled together, appearing to have a deep affection for each other. A stable boy brought a bundle of selected forage and ced it in the manger, but the old horse nced at it disdainfully, showing no interest in eating. Seeing the old horses reaction, the stable boy muttered under his breath, The white horse left, and so quickly it got along with a new one? As if understanding human speech, the old horse red at the stable boy, who didnt dare to provoke this exotic beast and quickly ran away. The premium forage that the old horses owner had stored here was long gone. After the premium feed was finished, and there was no sign from the horses owner, the posthouse owner spected whether something had happened to them or if they had died, especially since the owner had gone to Song Mountain. After the premium feed was finished, the posthouse owner had the stable boy feed it other forages. If the owner didnt show up, they nned to use the old horse to cover the feed costs. However, the old horse turned its nose up at the posthouses feed, not eating a single bite, and this continued for a month. The posthouse owner felt a chill down his spine. This old horse was definitely not a simple exotic beast with scales on its forehead but a high-level demon beast that had reached the state of avoiding grains! Exotic beasts are a species between demon beasts and wild beasts. They have demon beast bloodlines, but the bloodline is too diluted,cking the ability to mobilize the bloodline power, showing some ancestral traits like growing scales, fur, horns, etc. Their bodies are stronger than wild beasts, but only to a limited extent. Tang Yuansheng was overjoyed to see the old horse, as it was a rare dragon horse, although he was unsure about the purity of its bloodline. If I hadnt identally visited the vast eastern seas, I wouldnt have recognized it. Tang Yuansheng was quite excited, as this was an unexpected fortune. Dragon horses are extremely rare, and to find one in the stable of a remote county was surely due to its owner not recognizing its value, and the dragon horse not yet awakened, hence it was covered in dust here. As a Nascent Soul stage powerhouse, I have alwayscked a suitable mount. This must be an opportunity gifted to me by the Undying Being for my devotion! After praying to the Undying Being for a moment, Tang Yuansheng leaped into the stable. The old horse looked back at Tang Yuansheng but ignored him, continuing to be affectionate with the brown mare. Poor dragon horse, unaware of its noble identity, falling in love with a mortal horse. Come with me, and I will show you how powerful you really are! Tang Yuansheng reached out his golden hand, intending to take the old horse away. The old horse kicked back with its hooves, breaking Tang Yuanshengs arm. Tang Yuansheng felt a tightness in his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura instantly weakened. He looked at the old horse in horror, his excitement reced by endless fear, and turned to run. There must be a powerful being ying in the mortal world living here, keeping the dragon horse as amon horse in the stable! His actions just now could not have been hidden from the powerful being ying in the mortal world. He hurriedly ran, hoping the other would spare his life for his ignorance! The old horse neighed proudly, boasting of its strength to the mare. After Tang Yuansheng had fled for a while and saw no powerful being capturing him back, he knew the other had not cared about his actions. Wow! He spat out another mouthful of blood and found a secluded ce to sit in meditation, consuming medicinal pills to recover from his injuries. Those two kicks had severely damaged his vitality. When he opened his eyes again, he heard a rumbling noise from the other side of the mountain, as if a huge object had fallen. Is it already night? Tang Yuansheng was surprised to see the sky had darkened, not expecting his recovery to take an entire day. Having recovered somewhat, he was no longer in danger, so he crossed Song Mountain to the site where the flying boat had crashed, only to see Helmsman Chu pierced by a sword from Lu Yang, lifeless. Is this the surprise Little Chu mentioned? Whether it was a pleasant surprise or not is debatable, but Tang Yuansheng was definitely shocked. Beforeing, the higher-ups of the Undying Sect had instructed him to keep an eye on Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, and Barbarian Bone, even providing portraits. Now, he had no choice but to pay attention. Who are you! Lu Yang held his sword defensively as he eyed Tang Yuansheng. Tang Yuansheng looked at Lu Yang with a smile that was not quite a smile: Lu Yang, dare you point your sword at me? I am Tang Yuansheng, the Inspector of the Undying Sect. Upon learning Tang Yuanshengs identity, Lu Yang signaled to Lan Ting to leave quickly, as Lan Tings presence was difficult to exin to Tang Yuansheng. So, you are Inspector Tang. Lu Yang became a bit more polite, but still looked at Tang Yuansheng with suspicion, clearly not fully trusting his identity. Tang Yuansheng did not bother to exin further to Lu Yang and asked, Why did you kill Li Shouyi? Li Shouyi, the governor of Yanjiang County, was Helmsman Chus real name, which Tang Yuansheng was ustomed to calling him Little Chu. Lu Yang replied gravely, Because he almost exposed his identity as a follower of the Undying Sect! Oh? Tang Yuansheng looked at Lu Yang with interest, waiting to hear what kind of exnation he would give. Suddenly, noises of disturbance came from the foot of the mountain. Fang Qingyun had arrived with arge group to investigate the crash of the flying boat, including physicians for rescue. Lets leave first! Currently in a weakened state, Tang Yuansheng did not want to encounter the officials and, with a sweep of his sleeve, took Lu Yang and the others away. Tang Yuansheng led the three of them to the Yanjiang Lodge, the safest ce in Yanjiang County. Now tell me, how did Li Shouyi expose his identity? He was always meticulous in his actions. Lu Yang revealed everything about the Life-draining Array and said, Helmsman Chu oh no, City Governor Lis n was impable. First, he made Yizhang Hong the scapegoat, then he secretly arranged the Life-draining Array. As long as the small gs were destroyed afterward, there would be no trace left. Tang Yuansheng nodded. Li Shouyi was always careful, using the very obscure Life-draining Array for this n, which was wless. But an ident still happened. We three opened a barbecue shop here, the best ce for gathering local intelligence. We noticed a disciple from the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce passing by. She seemed to be proficient in formations and saw through the Life-draining Talisman on the small gs! Disciples of the five great immortal gates are untouchable. We were worried that City Governor Lis incident would implicate the entire Undying Sect. We advised him to hide, but he said it was a critical time for him to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage using the Life-draining Array and absolutely could not hide. We had no choice but to kill him before The Great Xia could catch City Governor Li, to eliminate future troubles permanently! You also noticed the officials just now, right? The leader is the chief bailiff, Fang Qingyun. He brought so many people to prevent the Life-draining Array from activating and to arrest City Governor Li! Tang Yuansheng nodded, believing Lu Yang and hispanions did the right thing. The presence of a disciple from the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce in Yanjiang County was something that could be investigated, and Li Shouyi indeed valued advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage. Generally, the lodge masters are at the Nascent Soul Stage. Yanjiang County is a small county, so the lodge master was only at the Golden Core Stage. Li Shouyi wanted to be promoted to a more developed areas lodge master, so he must advance to the Nascent Soul Stage now. The same logic applied to his official status; without sufficient cultivation level, promotions would be fraught with difficulties. Barbarian Bone was shocked by Lu Yangs story; their n did not include encountering Tang Yuansheng after killing Helmsman Chu, nor had they considered the reason for the murder. How did Brother Lue up with such a story on the spot? Meng Jingzhou quietly gave Lu Yang a thumbs up. The reason Lu Yang came up with was not far off from what he had improvised on the spot. (End of the chapter) Chapter 102: Your Mission is to Infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect Chapter 102: Your Mission is to Infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Now that Li Shouyi is dead, theres no further consideration for his promotion. The government might suspect the presence of a demonic cult here based on his identity, making everyone here stay in line for a while. Tang Yunsheng quickly made a decision; he had risen through the ranks step by step, decisively. As for the three of you, take out your tokens. The three handed over tokens engraved with the words Deacon. Tang Yunsheng approached the statue of the Undying Being, bowed three times, and then with a wave of his hand that emitted golden light, he muttered some rapid and indistinct words. He wiped the tokens, and the word Deacon changed to Lodge Master. As an Inspector, Tang Yunsheng had been authorized by the higher-ups to arrange promotions and demotions for positions up to and including lodge masters. Making Lu Yang and the others lodge masters was not Tang Yunshengs idea but the will of the higher-ups. As for which high-ranking official, Tang Yunsheng was not sure; he had heard it was a decision at the level of the vice-sect leader or even higher. He was just executing orders. Which county are we supposed to be lodge masters in? Meng Jingzhou seemed eager to show what he was capable of. Tang Yunsheng shook his head: What are you thinking? Youre only at the initial stage of Foundation Building. How could youmand respect as lodge masters? Even a ce like Yanjiang Lodge wouldnt do. A lodge master will be parachuted into Yanjiang County. Thats not something you need to worry about. So, what about our lodge master status Making you lodge masters was not my idea but the higher-ups. They elevated you to lodge master level, giving you the rank but not the position. This way, youll have many of the rights that only lodge masters possess, with fewer restrictions. The higher-ups have given you a confidential mission, which must not be disclosed to anyone but us four! Lu Yang and the others stood at attention, ready for orders. Tang Yunsheng spoke softly, The higher-ups have given you one year to find a way to infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect. I will be your contact person! Lu Yang and the others were momentarily taken aback by this task. Tang Yunsheng waved his hand: I know this task is extremely difficult. Among the five major immortal gates, the Suspended Temple has too few people, making it inconvenient to ce someone inside. The Dao Seeking Sects thinking is too erratic, making it hard to get in, and even if you do, you might be discovered due to not fitting in. The three of you have a high degree ofpatibility with the Dao Seeking Sect, and you might be able to smoothly enter the Dao Seeking Sect. Its not that youre required to be disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect. ording to intelligence analysis, the Dao Seeking Sects entertainment industry is booming, and theyre hiring every year. You could use this opportunity to infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect! Of course, this is just one method Ive mentioned. The sect will not intervene, and you are free to find other methods. The deadline is one year. If you cannotplete the task within a year, the higher-ups will assign you a new task! Seeing Lu Yang and the others looking confident, Tang Yunsheng shook his head and chuckled. They didnt know how difficult it was to infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect, as countless people had died trying. He handed out three talismans to them: The Dao Seeking Sect is fraught with danger. These are escape talismans. If you fail your mission, use these talismans to flee immediately! These three were rare talents of the Undying Sect, especially Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. The sect leader naturally wanted to ensure their safety. The Dao Seeking Sect is fraught with danger? Meng Jingzhou thought to himself that returning to the Dao Seeking Sect was likeing home; where was the danger? If there was any danger, it was only from the Eldest Senior Sister. Theres one more thing, did Little Chu ever tell you how to resurrect the Undying Being? Lu Yang shook his head: Helmsman Chu only told us the first step, to kill people to please the Undying Being. As for the second step, he said our position was too low, and ording to the rules, he couldnt tell us. Tang Yunsheng said, Now that you are at the level of lodge masters, you are qualified to know how to resurrect the Undying Being. This is also the duty of every lodge master-level follower. Come, let me demonstrate it to you. Tang Yunsheng knelt in front of the Undying Being, raising his hands high and calling out loudly: O Undying Being, the true Miao Mu, your most devout believers sincerely call upon you, please descend your divine traces and protect humanity! After speaking, he knocked his head on the ground three times, then stood up,pleting the ritual. The three were full of question marks. Thats it? Barbarian Bone was even more puzzled inside, wondering why the name of the Undying Being sounded like it belonged to the barbarians. Tang Yunsheng said, You must call upon the Undying Being exactly as I just did, but you cannot say Miao Mu. Why is that? Because Miao Mu is not the true name of the Undying Being. The three were even more puzzled. If its not the true name, then why bother saying it? Tang Yunsheng exined, To resurrect the Undying Being, you must recite his title and his immortal name. The first step of killing to please the Undying Being means that if the Undying Being is pleased, he will guide us from the shadows to say his immortal name. We have learned from the relics that his title is Undying Being, but the relics did not record his immortal name. Before the Undying Being descends his divine traces to hint at us, our Undying Sect can only keep trying. Out of respect for the Undying Being, there should be a months interval between each call for his immortal name! Tang Yunsheng took out a well-worn The Great Xia Dictionary: Most names have already been tried. Recently, I suspect the Undying Being was from the barbarian tribes, so I am trying barbarian names. The ancient barbarian tribes were once a significant force protecting humanity, which fits the identity of the Undying Being. Tang Yunsheng handed out three thick notebooks to them, titled Immortal Names Already Called (120th Edition). The sheer number of immortal names listed made Lu Yang suspect the Undying Sect had already tried every conceivable name. Wepile the immortal names weve recited every few decades to avoid repetition. This is thetestption. Take a look and try calling out once, but dont repeat any names from the notebook. Lu Yang called out: O Undying Being, Archimedes above, your most devout believers sincerely call upon you, please descend your divine traces and protect humanity! Meng Jingzhou called out: O Undying Being, Li Gou Dan above Barbarian Bone called out: O Undying Being, Yel S De above Clearly, there were few names left for the Undying Being. After their calls, the Undying Being did not descend his divine traces or resurrect himself. Thats it, Ive ryed to you the mission the higher-ups gave me. Pack your things and find your own way into the Dao Seeking Sect. Yes. Back at the barbecue shop, Lan Ting was already sitting in the hall waiting for them. Lu Yang and Lan Ting matched their stories briefly, sharing the subsequent events and the mission Tang Yunsheng had given them. Lan Ting looked at them with a peculiar gaze. The Undying Sect was probably doomed sooner orter. Since youre leaving, its time for this youngdy to return to the immortal pce and report on the mission. These past ten days have been delightful, thank you three for your help. Although I did not join the demonic cult, helping you kill the lodge master is also a significant achievement, earning me quite a few contribution points, Lan Ting said sweetly, reluctant to part. The word fate is indeed marvelous. Initially, she helped Lu Yang kill the tiger out of the duty to assist a fellow from the immortal gates, also carrying the mission to infiltrate the demonic cult. Who would have thought that in the end, she, who had a mission, did not join the demonic cult, whereas Lu Yang and the others, who initially knew nothing of the demonic cult, joined it. Now with Tang Yunsheng still in the county, if they had too much contact with each other, Tang Yunsheng might discover them, potentially causing trouble. The journey is long, may we meet again if fate allows! Goodbye! Take care! After seeing off Lan Ting, the three began to pack their things. Meng Jingzhou suddenly remembered: What about our horse? (End of the chapter) Chapter 103: It Seems We Called the Right Immortal Name... Chapter 103: It Seems We Called the Right Immortal Name Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The old horse was fortunate. Before it made a lifelongmitment to the brown mare, Meng Jingzhou paid and took away both the old horse and the carriage. No, no, no, it shouldnt cost so much to stay in the stable. The stable boy objected. What about the feed? Dont you want payment for that? Meng Jingzhou was puzzled, as the old horse had long since finished the premium feed it was brought, and he thought the horse had be desperate enough to start eating regr feed. The stable boy shook his head: Your horse didnt eat anything. Huh? Meng Jingzhou was confused. He stroked the old horses mane and asked, Have you been fasting? The old horse snorted but didnt respond. How could a horse talk? Meng Jingzhou threatened fiercely: If you dont answer, youll never get feed again! After a long standoff between man and horse, the old horse still didnt respond, and Meng Jingzhou gave up, guessing some things. He thought about how smoothly he had left home initially; even his sister knew he was going to run away, so the rest of the family must have known too. Yet, no one stopped him, not worrying about him getting into trouble at all. Excluding the possibility that he wasnt their biological child, the only exnation was that they knew he was safe. Now, the answer was obvious; the horse pulling the carriage was the biggest security. He just didnt know how strong the old horse was, but it must be quite powerful to be able to protect him. Meng Jingzhouined: If youre so strong, why didnt you stop Eldest Senior Sister from getting on the carriage? He still remembered how he naively treated Eldest Senior Sister as a fellow examinee, letting her on the carriage, iming he had obtained the original questions for the sect entrance exam. It was embarrassing to the extreme. If only the old horse had stopped Eldest Senior Sister, then none of this would have happened. The old horse nced at Meng Jingzhou as if looking at a fool. Before leaving, Lu Yang made a point to notify Head Catcher Wei. Wei was not surprised by their departure. What cultivator truly runs a barbecue shop for life? It was just a novelty, and once that wore off, they would close up shop. What a pity, well never taste such delicious barbecue again,mented Head Catcher Wei. I was hoping to catch some people at your shop to help me get promoted to chief catcher. Wei figured catching three more demonic cultivators would get him to the chief catcher position. Its good that youre leaving. Yanjiang County might not be peaceful recently. What do you mean? Wei spoke softly, You cant tell anyone else this. I understand. Lu Yang trusted Weis character: You know about City Governor Li, right? Now there are rumors saying that to get promoted, City Governor Li colluded with demonic cultivators. Whether they were rogue demonic practitioners or from a demonic sect is still uncertain, but their cultivation level must be high, or they wouldnt have been able to cooperate with City Governor Li. Lis body was found on Song Mountain. Head Catcher Fang spectes that there was a conflict of interest between the demonic cultivator and City Governor Li. With Li dead and the demonic cultivator still atrge, it indicates the demonic cultivators cultivation is higher than Lis, who was only a step away from the Nascent Soul Stage. Just think how high the demonic cultivators cultivation must be! Lu Yang shrank his neck: Such a ruthless demonic cultivator! So, its good for you to leave. Yanjiang County seems peaceful, but who knows where demonic cultivators might be hiding, right beside you and me! Lu Yang agreed: Indeed. Barbarian Bone reluctantly bid farewell to the barbecue shop. The glory of barbecuing from his tribe would not be carried on by his generation. Two ghosts were jubnt, celebrating that they no longer had to barbecue day and night. Before departing, Tang Yunsheng saw the three off, reminding them that infiltrating the Dao Seeking Sect would be fraught with difficulties and to proceed with caution. Lu Yang reassured him, Dont worry, elder, we three will definitely not let the organization down. We will surely infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect, steal secrets, and shine for our Undying Sect. On the carriage, the old horse pulled the vehicle neither too quickly nor too slowly. It seemed to move at a leisurely pace, but actually covered a great distance with each step, involving profound knowledge of space. The three men chatted about the Undying Being inside the carriage. Look, our names are also in the notebook, Undying Being Lu Yang, Undying Being Meng Jingzhou, Undying Being Barbarian Bone, Lu Yangughed, finding it interesting to see their names in the demonic cults notebook. It was evident that the cult was very dedicated to reviving the Undying Being, as he could find everyone he knew in the notebook. What do you think the Undying Beings real name is? Mendeleev? Socrates? Meng Jingzhou chuckled: Maybe its a shameful name, like Dog Egg or Leftover Dog, too embarrassed to say it out loud, so its hidden, only referred to by titles. It could also be a name from our barbarian tribes. The three showed no reverence for the Undying Being, ignoring Tang Yunshengs advice to guess the immortal name once a month and casually guessing names. Lets keep it down. What if we actually guess the Undying Beings name? Lu Yang cautioned, as it was still uncertain whether the Undying Being was friend or foe. The im that the Undying Being protected humanity was just the Undying Sects side of the story, not entirely reliable. How about this, from now on we refer to Undying Being as Undying Maiden, so even if we identally say the right name, the Undying Being wont be resurrected. Lu Yang suggested. Lu Yang makes sense. I agree, Meng Jingzhou raised his hand in agreement. Barbarian Bone thought Lus consideration was thorough. After a while on the road, the three felt hungry and stopped the carriage under a small grove of trees to eat something. The grove shielded them from the annoying sunlight, creating a tranquil atmosphere with faint bird chirps in the distance, making them rx involuntarily. Meng Jingzhou spread out a tablecloth, Lu Yang took out pots and pans along with fire-starting talismans, and Barbarian Bone summoned the ghosts. Just half a day into unemployment, the two ghosts were summoned back by Barbarian Bone to resume their old job, skillfully starting to barbecue. Meng Jingzhou took out a cookbook and a bunch of bottles and jars, pushing them all towards the ghosts: Dont make barbecue this time, change the taste, follow this cookbook. Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone looked on, wondering why he always carried a cookbook with him. The two ghosts had to start from scratch, deciding to begin with the simplest dish: fried eggs. Not hardworking in life, they became diligent after death. The three had no intention of taking Fasting Pills. Why eat those when they could enjoy delicious food? Tang Yunsheng guessed the Undying Maiden might be from your barbarian tribes. Are there simr legends in ancient barbarian lore? Lu Yang asked. Barbarian Bone shook his head: Ive heard from elders that ancient barbarians fought against heavens and could battle immortals, but Ive never heard of an immortal being born from our tribe. Its strange about that relic, too. It recorded the greatness of the Undying Maiden but didnt bother to write down the Undying Maidens name? Meng Jingzhou analyzed logically: Think about it, in ancient times everyone had imposing titles and names. Before a battle, they would announce their names. Imagine the Undying Maidening forward and saying I am Undying Being Li Dog Egg, oh no, it should be Undying Maiden Li Dog Egg. That would have lost half the battles momentum right there! The Undying Maiden definitely wanted to erase such a dark history! Lu Yang alsoughed: Maybe the name was too cute andcked deterrence, like Undying Maiden Yellow Bean or something. The four words of Undying Maiden Yellow Bean seemed to touch the mechanisms of fate, altering the heavens and earth. An iprehensible force hovered above the three men, forming a silhouette. The previously rxed old horse instantly became alert, positioning itself in front of Meng Jingzhou and staring intently at the power in the sky. The three swallowed hard. It seemed they had stirred up something big. (End of the chapter) Chapter 104: Still Relying on Eldest Senior Sister Chapter 104: Still Relying on Eldest Senior Sister Whats happening! The three men looked at each other in rm, none knowing what to do next. Can we really rely on the Undying Sect? Werent we supposed to call for the Undying Being? Why is there a reaction when I call for the Undying Maiden! Lu Yang loudly criticized the unreliability of the Undying Sect, questioning their own faithwhether its the Undying Being or the Undying Maiden, they couldnt even get their story straight. What kind of religion is this! Stop talking nonsense, lets run! Meng Jingzhou shouted, realizing now was not the time forints. The figure congealing in the sky was like a mirage, extremely unstable. Sensing the cause and effect rtionship with Lu Yang and realizing he had called out her true name, she transformed into a beam of light, entering Lu Yangs body. Just at the Foundation Building stage, such a weak existence. The figure arrived in Lu Yangs spiritual space, which he had yet to develop, containing only a small area. As the figure entered the spiritual space, Lu Yang also arrived there. The spiritual space was dark all around, as if invisible walls stood there, with only a small area in the middle illuminated. Lu Yang and the figure stood in this light. Lu Yang watched the figure warily: Who are you! The figure chuckled, amused by Lu Yangs reaction, her voice melodious, but to Lu Yang, it sounded like a verdict from hell: Ah, youve already called out my name, yet you still dont know who I am? Lu Yang, who had been hoping for the best, felt his heart sink at the worst-case scenario. The figure was indeed the Undying Sects deity. She was an immortal, a true, resurrected immortal! Just the act of uttering her name could bring her back to life, a terrifying existence! What do you want to do? The figure didnt deign to answer Lu Yangs question, instead asking: What year is it now, and who controls the universe? Its the era of The Great Xia dynasty, and the highest ruler of humanity is Emperor Xia. Ten thousand years ago was the era of the Great Yu dynasty. The Great Yu dynastysted for ten thousand years, and I dont know about the dynasties before that. Emperor Xia? The Great Xia? The Great Yu? These are dynasties Ive never heard of. The figure shook her head, then asked, How long have I been dead? This question was beyond Lu Yangs knowledge: As far as I know, you were an immortal from the ancient times, protecting humanity when the Nameless One refined the stars into thend. Lu Yang hinted that she had performed such great deeds as protecting humanity and was a righteous immortal, hoping she wouldnt act dishonorably towards someone as insignificant as him. Nameless One? Refining stars intond? Protecting humanity? What is all this nonsense? The figure was confused, not understanding what Lu Yang was talking about. Lu Yang almost cursed out loud, suspecting the Undying Sects reliability. Was there a shred of truth in what the Undying Sect said, given herplete ignorance of these matters? The figure realized her era had long passed, so much so that humanity hadpletely forgotten her deeds, her immortal name. If there had been even one person in the world who spoke her title and immortal name, she would have been resurrected long ago, not oblivious to even the existence of the Great Yu and The Great Xia dynasties. Well, since the world has forgotten her name, she decided to use this young mans body to let her name, Undying Maiden Yellow Bean, resound through heaven and earth once more. The Undying Maiden looked at Lu Yang with a mix of appreciation and amusement. Lu Yang had a bad feeling as he heard the Undying Maiden scoff: I see you are at a low level of cultivation, just having established your Foundation, but you have an excellent spiritual root and a good foundation. I will possess you and show you the splendor of this world! Possession! Things were progressing in the direction Lu Yang least wanted. Unwilling to be possessed so easily, Lu Yang prepared to confront the Undying Maiden,unching a series of moves that seemed to mimic a womans style. Dont think youre something special just because youre an immortal! The Undying Maiden scoffed. What could such feeble punches do? She had already surveyed the surroundings: two ghosts, two Foundation Building cultivators, and a dragon horsenone could stop her from possessing him! If Meng Jingzhou or Barbarian Bone had been there, they would have recognized that Lu Yang was executing the ultimate move of the Shape-Imitating Fist, the Eldest Senior Sister Shape-Imitating Fist. At the Dao Seeking Sect, Yun Zhi was in the council hall, discussing various matters with the eight elders. I think we should allocate more spirit stones to our Pellet Cauldron Peak. We are on the verge of a major breakthrough in the way of the pill. Just a few more spirit stones, and we will reach a historic moment. No amount of spirit stones would be too much for this! Allocating spirit stones to your Pellet Cauldron Peak would be less useful than giving them to our Herb Garden. Its the perfect time to rece the foundational array, which would make the herbs grow even stronger! The elders expressed their own views on where the spirit stones should go, unwilling to yield to each other. Yun Zhi was about to speak when the eight elders saw her about to talk and fell silent. Suddenly, Yun Zhis body shuddered. That sensation from before was back again. Was Lu Yang borrowing her power again? A sliver of power appeared at Yun Zhis fingertips. Should she give it to him? Last time, Lu Yang easily borrowed power from Yun Zhi because she was unguarded. This time, Yun Zhi was prepared and didnt let a trace of power leak out. After a moments thought, Yun Zhi retracted her power, deciding to personally check on what Lu Yang was doing. Please continue discussing, elders. Ill be right back. Yun Zhis soul left her body, traversing the heavens and earth, leaving the elders looking at each other in confusion. Her soul flew into the air, making a profound leap, and then sped off at an incredible speed, finding Lu Yangs location and entering his body. Just as she entered Lu Yangs body, she heard the Undying Maiden scoffing, Just give up and let me possess you. Yun Zhi immediately recognized that the Undying Maiden was an immortal soul, albeit a weak one, but aplete immortal soul nheless. How dare you attack my junior brother? Yun Zhi extended her slender hand, striking towards the Undying Maiden. Who! The Undying Maiden was surprised, as she had no awareness of Yun Zhis arrival. Though this was rted to her recent resurrection and the weakness of her soul, it was still quite remarkable. The Undying Maiden was somewhat relieved. During the years she had been dead, humanity had produced such an outstanding figure. Dao Seeking Sect, Yun Zhi. The Undying Maiden tried to block Yun Zhis hand, but the attack seemed weak yet contained the universe, indescribable, as if it exhausted all the principles of magic, impossible to resist. Wait, there might be a misunderstanding. I was just joking with the junior! The Undying Maidens face changed drastically, trying everything she could to block the attack, but Yun Zhis strength far exceeded her expectations. Yun Zhi didnt listen to what the Undying Maiden had to say, hitting her with a palm and suppressing her. The Undying Maiden was furious, struggling fiercely: Youre going too far, girl. Dont think I, the Undying Maiden, am afraid of you! An immortal cannot be humiliated! Seeing the Undying Maiden still trying to resist, Yun Zhi frowned, threw Lu Yang out of the spiritual world, and said, Its inconvenient for me to exert my full strength with Lu Yang here. Huff Lu Yang finally left the spiritual world, returning to reality, taking a deep breath, feeling lucky to have survived the ordeal. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, seeing Lu Yange back to his senses, hurriedly asked how he was. Just moments ago, Lu Yang had been staring nkly ahead, causing Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone to panic, not knowing what to do. Then, a soul that looked like Eldest Senior Sister descended from the sky and entered Lu Yangs body. I dont know. Lu Yang shook his head. It wasnt that he didnt have confidence in Eldest Senior Sister, but the opponent was an immortal, an ancient one at that. Eldest Senior Sister had said there were no immortals in the world, indicating she definitely wasnt one. He didnt know who would win or lose if the two of them fought. If Eldest Senior Sister is here, there shouldnt be a problem. Meng Jingzhou said this without much confidence. He knew Eldest Senior Sister was strong, but how strong, he didnt know. Come in. Soon, Lu Yang heard Eldest Senior Sisters voice inside him, as cold as ever. Lu Yang re-entered the spiritual space to find the high and mighty Undying Maiden Yellow Bean being beaten miserably, trying to convince Eldest Senior Sister that she was a good person. I just resurrected and wanted to joke with the junior. Im a woman; how could I possess a male cultivator? I, Yellow Bean, also have my pride and wouldnt do such a disgraceful thing. Besides, I am an immortal soul. A Foundation Building stage body couldnt bear my power anyway. Eldest Senior Sister quietly watched Undying Maiden Yellow Bean, and after an unknown amount of time, finally responded. Oh. epting the Undying Maidens exnation. (End of the chapter) Chapter 105: The Unfortunate Undying Maiden Chapter 105: The Unfortunate Undying Maiden Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Do you really go by the name Yellow Bean? Lu Yang asked, half in doubt. With a stern face, Undying Maiden responded, Youngster, mortals are not entitled to address me by my celestial name. You shall refer to me as Undying Maiden! So, Undying Maiden, your real name is Yellow Bean? Undying Maidens face fell, Thats the name my parents gave me; I can hardly change it. Yun Zhi interrupted their unproductive conversation, Lets get to the point. What have you been up to? Youve been entangled with an immortal just two months after leaving. Undying Maiden corrected Yun Zhis wording, Watch yournguage. I have not been entangled with him. Speaking like that makes it seem like some foolish romance! All Undying Maiden got in response was Yun Zhis cold gaze. Thinking it over, Undying Maiden, who had just resurrected with a weakened celestial spirit and knew nothing of the outside world, saw no need to provoke an enemy. However, being a respected immortal whomanded power and respect in ancient times, she felt it necessary to maintain a certain dignity and warn the others not to take her lightly. Suit yourself. Lu Yang, catching a glimpse of the honest Undying Maiden and meeting Eldest Senior Sisters cold eyes, candidly shared his exploits over the past month. We didnt do much. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone came to me, saying there was a tiger demon in the mountains of Yanjiang County causing trouble. Killing this demon would earn us contribution points. The three of us thought it was a no-lose mission and went for it. The tiger demon was easily killed. While tallying the loot, we discovered the demon had ties to a demonic cult. We followed the clues to the cult, hoping to eliminate a few members and rid the people of some evil. Then we heard the demonic cult was recruiting, so we decided to infiltrate, just to try our luck. Surprisingly, all three of us got in. Once inside, the local leader of the demonic cult valued us and made us officers. Though we joined the demonic path, our hearts remained with the righteous way. During our time with the cult, we discovered the local leader secretly set up a Life-draining Array to achieve breakthrough by sacrificing others. After a brave fight and some cunning strategies, we sessfully killed him. Just as the higher-ups of the demonic cult came to inspect, they found us capable and cunning, promoting us to helmsmen and even sending us to infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect as spies. Undying Maiden chuckled on the side, What a foolish demonic cult, sending you back here as spies. Whats the name of this cult? I must mock them when I encounter them. Undying Sect, and they worship you, Lu Yang said. Undying Maidens smile froze on her face. Lu Yang continued, The people from Undying Sect told us that during ancient times, when a nameless being was refining stars into continents, the Undying Being saved humanity. By invoking the Undying Being with the celestial name, one could resurrect a celestial being to save humanity again. On our way back, bored, we guessed what the Undying Beings real name could be. Worried about the consequences of actually resurrecting a celestial being, we changed Undying Being to Undying Maiden. And as you can see, Eldest Senior Sister, I managed to bring her back to life. Yun Zhi hummed in response, Your threes experiences are indeed rich, sessfully infiltrating the Undying Sect and even rising to the rank of helmsman. Theres much to bemended for in the selection process of the demonic cult, being able to discern between good and evil. It was no small feat for you to enter the Undying Sect. Ive also heard about the Undying Sects attempts to resurrect the Undying Being, but I didnt know the specifics. Its unexpected that you seeded by ident. Yun Zhi shifted her gaze to Undying Maiden, who was deep in thought, Do you have anything to say? Undying Maiden shook her head, Ive never heard of the Undying Sect, nor do I know about any ancient nameless beings refining stars, nor do I remember saving humanity. The era I lived in was called the Age of Destiny, meaning that heaven showed mercy, and the true destiny was with me. I was born a human and attained celestial status during this prosperous age. Because of the unique abilities of my dao fruit, people called me Undying Maiden. Yun Zhi exined inly, The Age of Destiny is what we often refer to as the ancient times. Undying Maiden continued, Aside from me, there were four others who became celestials at the time. Later, I was ambushed by someone from behind and waspletely killed; I died thoroughly. Just as the Undying Sect said, as long as someone calls out our titles and celestial names, I can be resurrected. I just dont know why it got changed to Undying Being and it took until now for me to be resurrected. I still dont know how long Ive been dead. Undying Maiden felt aggrieved. She had just resurrected and wanted to show off in front of the younger generation, to intimidate them into obedience. Instead, they directly summoned their Eldest Senior Sister, and that wasnt the end of it. This Eldest Senior Sister was incredibly strong, outright suppressing her. Who could shein to? Why did she encounter such a powerful person immediately upon resurrection? After listening, Yun Zhi analyzed, It might not be a case of misinformation. Perhaps someone intentionally wanted to resurrect you without entangling themselves in karma with you. They used the Undying Sect to call out your title and celestial name, deliberately changing it to Undying Being. Once the Undying Sect tried all the names and found none fit, they might guess the title was incorrect. This way, the Undying Sect would resurrect you and create karma with you, leaving the person behind the scenes uninvolved. The more advanced practitioners are, the more they value karma, believing that everything is controlled by karma in the unseen world. At this point, Yun Zhi frowned slightly. Now, it wasnt the Undying Sect that created karma with Undying Maiden, but Lu Yang, who identally took on this massive karmic debt. As for how long youve been dead, Yun Zhi paused before asking, You dont know who refined the stars? Her tone was light, but Lu Yang detected a seriousness in it, indicating Eldest Senior Sister deemed the question of great importance. Undying Maiden shook her head, puzzled, I dont know. Whats the situation now? When I was alive, everyone lived on the stars. Has someone refined the stars into continents? Yun Zhi nodded, Before the Great Xia Dynasty was the Great Yu Dynasty, before the Great Yu was the Great Qian Dynasty, and before the Great Qian, was your Age of Destiny, the ancient times we speak of. Both Great Qian and Great Yusted for a hundred thousand years each, then were reced. The Great Xia alsosted for a hundred thousand years. Some say its a curse from ancient times, that each dynasty can onlyst for a hundred thousand years. After a hundred thousand years, the dynasty will inevitably copse, and new powers will rise from the ruins to establish a new dynasty. At the end of the ancient times, a celestial being refined the stars into continents, forever changing the world. This led to the formation of the current Central Continent. In other words, youve been dead for at least three hundred thousand years. Undying Maiden was astonished, That long? If I had known, I would have deposited my spirit stones in a bank. How much interest could I have earned? Lu Yang: Perhaps the focus of this immortal is a bit off? (End of the chapter) Chapter 106: Triumphant Return Chapter 106: Triumphant Return Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii How did you use my power? Yun Zhi looked at Lu Yang, somewhat puzzled. Based on Lu Yangs experiences, he shouldnt have had ess to such advanced and difficult techniques as divine descent. Uh I just happened toe across a set of the Shape-Imitating Fist. While practicing the fist, I thought, since the Shape-Imitating Fist is about imitating an object to gain its advantages, why should I only imitate animals? Humans could also be imitated. Among the people I know, you, Eldest Senior Sister, are the strongest, so I imitated you and gained your power. Yun Zhi: She had been proficient in magic since childhood, considered a prodigy in the field, able to learn any magic at a nce and even correct its ws to make it more perfect. She had also deduced many long-lost magics, such as the technique of divine descent. But she had never encountered a situation like Lu Yangs before. Even if I gave you a trace of my power, its not something you can bear at your current level. Dont use this kind of fist technique lightly. Lu Yang understood Eldest Senior Sisters meaning: solve your own problems and dont call me over for no reason. And you, leave Lu Yangs body. The Immortal Maiden, unusually determined this time, shook her head in refusal: I cant leave him. Hmm? Yun Zhis voice rose two pitches, and the Immortal Maiden quickly added an exnation upon seeing the situation turning south. Ive just resurrected, my immortal soul is fragile, and I need a body to inhabit. Lu Yang called out my name, causing me to resurrect, which led to a special causality between him and me. This causality forces me to reside within his body until this special causality disappears and my immortal soul strengthens, only then can I leave his spiritual world. Lu Yang pondered: So its like being pregnant for ten months? The Immortal Maiden angrily retorted: Can you use a more appropriate analogy! Lu Yang spread his hands, his imagination was limited, and he couldnt think of a better example. I could also directly shatter your immortal soul and then revive you myself, Eldest Senior Sisters gaze settled on the Immortal Maiden, putting immense pressure on her. That wont work. Where did you learn my name? From Lu Yang. Essentially, it was Lu Yang who resurrected me. Your method wont work. Yun Zhi fell silent for a moment, then with a single hand gesture, cast a golden mark that imprinted onto Lu Yangs spiritual space, then faded and disappeared. What is this This is a soul mark Ive left. If you do anything harmful to him, this mark will activate, shattering your immortal soul. Then you can hope for some fool to correctly call your name again in three hundred thousand years. The warning was clear. The Immortal Maiden shivered. Actually, you dont have to be so wary of me. After my immortal soul recovers, I can directly reshape my immortal body without needing to possess anyone. Moreover, I need to sleep to recover my strength, and I dont know when Ill wake up. Saying so, the Immortal Maiden yawned. Immortals get tired? Lu Yang was surprised. The Immortal Maiden kept yawning: Its because of the fight just now, which consumed most of my strength As she spoke, the Immortal Maidens eyelids began to fight each other, and she fell asleep: Goodnight, dont wake me up before the end of the world. After confirming that the Immortal Maiden was really asleep, Yun Zhi left the spiritual space, appearing in her soul form in the real world. Eldest Senior Sister, youve worked hard! Meng Jingzhou greeted her with unprecedented politeness. Hello, Eldest Senior Sister. Barbarian Bone remained as honest as ever. Although he hadnt done anything wrong, he couldnt help but feel afraid whenever he saw Eldest Senior Sister. Do not speak of the Immortal Maidens resurrection to anyone. Yes! The two men shouted in unison. The old horse neighed in agreement too. Also, dont dawdle on the way. Hurry back to the Dao Seeking Sect! With these words, Yun Zhis soul turned into a streak of light, returning to the Dao Seeking Sect to continue the meeting. The trio packed up their yful hearts, got on the carriage, and hurried off. Huh? Why so fast? Meng Jingzhou could see the scenery outside the carriage window changing rapidly, about ten times faster than before! The old horse, no longer dawdling as before, moved swiftly on all fours, utilizing spatial magic to traverse through space at incredible speed. What would normally take several days took only half a day to reach the Dao Seeking Sect. The old horse knew that Yun Zhisst sentence, Hurry back to the Dao Seeking Sect, wasnt meant for the three of them but for itself. Ha ha, Dao Seeking Sect, Im back! Meng Jingzhou opened his arms andughed heartily, feeling somewhat triumphant as if returning home in glory. The three of them had endured humiliation and hardbor in the demonic cult, pretending to be viins all for the sake of earning contribution points and to boast about their achievements! Thus, the first thing they did upon returning to the sect was to head to the mission hall to exchange their contribution points. They walked into the mission hall with their heads held high, looking disdainfully at everything around them, strutting in like three crabs fresh from the sea. Inside the mission hall, tasks collected from various ces covered the walls, with Senior Brothers and Sisters searching for suitable missions. Lu Yang noticed that the task of finding a Nascent Soul Stage tiger with wings was still posted on the wall, which meant that Daoist Li Hong from the Shanhaiguan had yet to find his beloved pet. The task of exploring a suspected cave heaven in Kunwu Mountain had been removed, indicating that the exploration wasplete. New tasks were also posted, such as the appearance of a Nascent Soul Stage demonic cultivator needing elimination, the discovery of ancient ruins requiring a team to explore, and two powerful beings seeking divorce mediation, among others. The brother on duty at the front desk, noticing their amusing way of walking, joked, Did the three of you save the world? Lu Yang humbly replied, Almost. Wepleted a secret mission and need to report to the Grand Elder. The brothers expression turned serious upon hearing about a secret mission, a matter of great importance that he couldnt handle. Nobody dared joke about such things: The Grand Elder is currently in the council hall holding a meeting. Brother Dai is overseeing the mission hall in his stead. Why dont you report to him? The meeting in the council hall had been going on for most of the day and was still not over. The mission hall, located at the Reward and Punishment Peak, is overseen by the Grand Elder. In his absence, Dai Bufan is responsible for all matters rted to Reward and Punishment Peak. Please inform Brother Dai for us. Upon hearing the message from his junior brother, Dai Bufan was puzzled; he didnt remember assigning any secret mission to Lu Yang and his group. Could it have been arranged by the Master? No, that couldnt be right; the Master would have informed him of any such arrangements. Suppressing his doubts, he said, Let them in. Yes. The trio was ushered into the core area of the mission hall, where Dai Bufan was lying back in a chair, flipping through case filesthese wereptions of intelligence from various ces, some of which could be turned into tasks. Dai Bufan put down the files, picked up his teacup filled with freshly plucked Enlightenment Tea, and said, Tell me, what did you do? Barbarian Bone, trying to articte his limited vocabry, sinctly said, We joined the demonic cult. Pfft Meng Jingzhou shot Barbarian Bone a re and exined to Dai Bufan, Dont listen to Barbarian Bones nonsense. We merely infiltrated the demonic cult. (End of the chapter) Chapter 107: The Weapon Used by Confucian Cultivators Chapter 107: The Weapon Used by Confucian Cultivators Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii In the end, it was Lu Yang who stepped forward and rified the situation in a few words. If not for Lu Yangs quick exnation, Dai Bufan was about to cleanse the sect of these two troublemakers, having long wanted to throw these two out of the Dao Seeking Sect! Look at the honest Barbarian Bone, what has he be after mixing with you two! Coming up and straight away saying hes from the demonic cult. So you joined the Undying Sect? And even became lodge masters? Dai Bufan saw the three in a new light, considering lodge masters are part of the demonic cults middle management, privy to many secrets, even clear about the process of reviving the Undying Being. The four major demonic cults have excellent information security, and Dai Bufan has always wanted to know how the Undying Being was resurrected. Lu Yang thought to himself that it was more than just knowing the process; the Undying Maiden was currently sleeping in his spiritual world. Speaking of which, since the Undying Maiden is residing within me, why am I still just a lodge master? I should be made the sect leader. Well done! Youve done a great job! Dai Bufan pped his thigh,menting how elusive the demonic cults are, always vignt against the righteous path, frustrated by his inability to get firsthand information and his failed attempts to nt informants. He didnt expect Lu Yang and hispanions to bring him a pleasant surprise. So Tang Yunsheng wants you to infiltrate our sect as Undying Sect spies, right? Then just go along with his n. In half a month, the Dao Seeking Sect will recruit a batch of new service staff to expand our internal entertainment industry. Ill include your three names in the selection. Dai Bufan quickly made a decision. As for the Yanjiang Lodge do you have a list of Yanjiang Lodge members? Yes. Lu Yang, having prepared the list in advance, handed it to Dai Bufan. Dai Bufan looked at Lu Yang meaningfully. Although the kid was slippery, he was smart enough to know what needed to be done and had prepared in advance. When you contact Tang Yunsheng again, make sure to disguise yourselves well and try to obtain as much information about the Undying Sect as possible. As Undying Sect spies, your very role is a mission. You dont have toplete three tasks a year like everyone else. As for your contribution points, the highest reward for a Foundation Building stage task is a thousand points. You eliminated two tiger demons and four members of the demonic cult, including one in thete Golden Core stage, and sessfully thwarted the Life-draining Array, contributing greatly. Two Foundation Building stage tiger demons and three Foundation Building stage demonic cult members count as seven hundred and fifty contribution points. Killing Helmsman Chu and stopping the Life-draining Array counts as a thousand contribution points. Infiltrating the demonic cult and bing lodge masters counts as a thousand contribution points. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, you each get two thousand seven hundred and fifty contribution points. Lu Yang, for your outstanding performance in this process, on top of the two thousand seven hundred and fifty contribution points, Ill grant you an additional two hundred and fifty contribution points, making it three thousand contribution points in total. The three were overjoyed, dazed by the massive amount of contribution points. With so many points, they could buy many things on the exchange list, enough to splurge for a while. If you obtain other information from the Undying Sect, you will also be rewarded with contribution points. After discussing some confidentiality precautions, Dai Bufan let them leave. After leaving, Lu Yang encountered an acquaintance in the mission hall, Brother Li Dan, who had once rmended a weapon to Lu Yang. The fierce-looking Brother Li Dan was standing next to a petite Senior Sister. Brother Li Dan. Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone said in unison. Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone looked at each other in surprise, not expecting both of them to know Brother Li Dan. Barbarian Bone introduced, This is Brother Li Dan, who bought the barbecue recipe from me for a hundred contribution points. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou suddenly realized; they remembered Barbarian Bone mentioning a senior brother who bought his barbecue recipe and even captured a Senior Sisters heart with the barbecue. Hello. Brother Li Dan greeted them with a smile, his smile growing more ferocious. Dai Bufan telepathically called over Li Dan, who was chatting: Brother Li Dan, Sister Ding Xiang, could youe over for a moment? I have a task suitable for you. Weve been called by Brother Dai, well leave first. Li Dan and Ding Xiang hurried away. Dai Bufan handed over a list to them: This is a list of demonic cult members I obtained through special channels. It only has names, no specific addresses. You two head to Yanjiang County, find everyone on the list, and try to eliminate them all, leaving no one behind. Yes! The two were excited, having been worried about which task to undertake next, but Brother Dai had just assigned them one. Get ready and go. Yes! Wait, theres one more thing, they were called back by Dai Bufan before leaving, Dont start a barbecue shop while youre undercover in Yanjiang County. Ah? Oh. What do you want to buy? Lu Yang asked Barbarian Bone. I want to buy a weapon suitable for Confucian cultivators. I cant always use Brother Meng as a weapon. Meng Jingzhou felt somewhat offended. How about this fan? The fan is inscribed with poetry, and a gentle wave can produce a de of wind. There are also soul-severing needles hidden within the fans folds, which can be secretlyunched along with the wind des, Lu Yang found an interesting weapon. It feels too elegant. Is there something with more power? How about this ck sand iron hammer? Forged from ck sand iron, it weighs two thousand pounds and includes a weight-increasing formation. Its weight increases the moment its swung down, and the increase disappears when lifted, allowing for a powerful strike that can shatter hills. No Foundation Building cultivator would dare to face it head-on. Seven hundred and eighty contribution points. Barbarian Bone was tempted, feeling that this suited his fighting style, but he declined. Its still not what Im looking for. I need a weapon for Confucian cultivators. Undeterred, Lu Yang scrolled to the bottom of the exchange list and found something interesting. Sleeping talisman, containing the full recitation of Sages Words, effectively promoting sleep. One contribution point. Stick this talisman on the hammer, and during battle, it automatically ys Sages Words. Doesnt that make the hammer a weapon for Confucian cultivators? Barbarian Bones eyes lit up, thinking Lu Yangs idea was ingenious. How had he not thought of such a great solution? Bought! Barbarian Bone spent seven hundred eighty-one contribution points to purchase his beloved weapon. Wielding therge iron hammer, with sage quotes ying from its handle, it was clear he was a Confucian cultivator. Meng Jingzhou didnt need to buy any weapons; he purchased several carts of high-quality fodder to reward the old horse. Lu Yang bought some items that could be useful in battle: Flesh Regeneration Pill, which could instantly regrow flesh and restore vitality if a chunk of flesh was lost during a fight. Golden Light Spell, forming a protective golden light around the body during battle, blocking several attacks and protecting the entire body, more effective than the cafeterias tbread. Lu Yang thought the Golden Light Spell was a great item and bought ten of them in one go. Clothes that maintain cleanliness, which stay clean without the need to cast a Cleaning Spell, are essential for eating Sichuan hot pot. And since these clothes are refined, theres no worry about them being taken away by an enemys storage ring. Lu Yang was taking precautions, concerned that an enemy might be as imaginative as himself. (End of the chapter) Chapter 108: Remove This Symbol, and Your Master Can Come Out Chapter 108: Remove This Symbol, and Your Master Can Come Out Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii When Lu Yang returned to Heavens Gate Peak, he still didnt see the Eldest Senior Sister, only the puppet was guarding the home. Has the meeting been this long? Is it about the distribution of spirit stones? In Lu Yangs memory, only such situations would result in long meetings. The elders always had various odd ideas, limited by theck of spirit stones, unable to implement them. When there was an opportunity to obtain spirit stones, they would argue their points vigorously. As Lu Yang was thinking, he saw eight streams of light flying out of the council hall. The eight elders left the hall, and the Eldest Senior Sister casually walked out of the hall, looking like the meeting was over. Back? Just got back. Yun Zhi scanned Lu Yang with her divine consciousness, confirming that Huang Doudou was still sleeping in the spiritual world: There are many doubts about the Undying Maiden, doubts that probably even she herself doesnt know the answers to. Im going out to visit friends to see if I can gain anything. You should practice well at Heavens Gate Peak and strive to enter the mid-stage of foundation building as soon as possible. Yes. Yun Zhi didnt say anything more, flew to the sky, blurred her figure, and disappeared in an unknown direction. After Yun Zhi left, Lu Yang looked at the puppet that had apanied him in his practice, eager to try, and sparred with the puppet, quickly getting beaten up thoroughly. Unable to defeat even a puppet, Lu Yang felt an increased sense of frustration and earnestly sat down to meditate and practice. The Eldest Senior Sister was running around for his sake; he couldnt afford to bezy. My disciple, has my disciplee back? A voice like a ghost reached Lu Yangs ears, and Lu Yang instinctively covered his ears, only to find that he could still hear the voice. This voice had an unbelievable magic. Who! Lu Yang looked around warily. He didnt remember having any master; it was always the Eldest Senior Sister who taught him. Wait, it seems I do have a master. Lu Yang has returned. I am your master, the Daoist Non-Speaker. The current sect master of the Dao Seeking Sect, the Daoist Non-Speaker, who had disappeared for ten years. With the sect master missing for ten years, the Dao Seeking Sect functioned smoothly, even recruiting a new generation of disciples. It was as if having a sect master and not having one were the same. Master?! Lu Yang was very surprised. He had been epted as a disciple by the Daoist Non-Speaker for a year but had never seen his master. The Eldest Senior Sister always said the master was in seclusion and had no time to see him. Could it be that the master had finally ended his seclusion? Its me. Although you have not seen me, I have always been watching over you. You were able to attract qi into your body and sessfully build your foundation. I am very pleased, the voice was full of vicissitudes, sounding like a kind old grandfather. Master, where are you? Are you in seclusion and cannote out to see your disciple? Lu Yang felt something was wrong. If the master could see him and talk to him, why had there been no interaction in the past year? The voice sighed long, with an indescribable bitterness: Ah, its a long story. I have always been at Heavens Gate Peak, just temporarily unable to leave my spot. Some things cant be exined in a few words. Just follow the route I tell you, and you will be able to see me. Although Lu Yang had doubts, he didnt feel any danger. This was Heavens Gate Peak, and the other party was his master. Moreover, the most important point was that the Eldest Senior Sister had never warned him about such matters. If there were any danger, the Eldest Senior Sister would have mentioned it long ago. First, find the pine forest halfway up the mountain. In the pine forest, there is a three-hundred-meter ancient pine, thergest pine tree in the entire forest. Lu Yang easily found the ancient pine mentioned by the Daoist Non-Speaker. He remembered the puppet picking pine nuts from here to make him pine nut corn, which was very delicious. Tap the ancient pine lightly three times, pause for three seconds, then tap three times again. Lu Yang did as instructed, only to see a spatial distortion ur on the east side of the ancient pine, as if a piece of camouge cloth was being removed, revealing the truth. On the east side of the ancient pine, arge area of pine trees disappeared, reced by a pitch-ck cave dwelling. At the entrance, there was a golden talisman, hard to miss. The voice of the Daoist Non-Speaker wasing from this cave dwelling. Lu Yang tentatively called out, Master? Ah, my good disciple. We finally meet. An elderly man with an immortal demeanor walked out from the cave dwelling, his dust whisk draped over his arm, elegant as an exiled immortal. He was somewhat excited to see Lu Yang. Is this his youngest disciple? The Daoist Non-Speaker stopped at the entrance, not taking another step forward. Master, what happened to you? Are you trapped here? When the Eldest Senior Sisteres back, Ill ask her to rescue you! Lu Yang said anxiously. No, no, no. The Daoist Non-Speaker quickly stopped Lu Yang. If Yun Zhi hadnt left Heavens Gate Peak, he wouldnt dare to call Lu Yang over. Dont tell your Eldest Senior Sister about seeing me. Why is that? The Daoist Non-Speaker looked up at the ceiling of the cave, his gazeplex: In a persons life, its all about fame and fortune. As the sect master of one of the five great immortal gates, with immense power, naturally, many people want to sit in my position. I understand, as I also went through a bloody struggle to stand out among my brothers and sisters to sit in this position. I thought bing the sect master would settle everything, but I never expected to be betrayed by those closest to me. Saying this, the Daoist Non-Speaker showed a pained expression, as if he couldnt bear to recall the past but had no choice. Your Eldest Senior Sister has extraordinary talents. When I stepped down, the position of sect master would definitely be hers, but she couldnt wait for that day. She broke the agreement between us, imprisoned me here, and became the acting sect master, managing all affairs of the sect. How has the sect developed over these ten years? Has your Eldest Senior Sister followed my ns? Lu Yang was surprised. He had heard from several Senior Brothers and Sisters that the sect had flourished over the past ten years, full of vitality, with the Eldest Senior Sister deserving most of the credit. Were all these within the masters ns? Lu Yang ryed the truth, receiving a somewhat pleased response from the Daoist Non-Speaker: Little Yun is doing well, even without me, she can manage the sect well. Its just a pity Whats a pity? Its a pity that it wasnt me managing personally. If it were me, there would be better management methods. Can youe out? The Daoist Non-Speaker gave a bitter smile, tried to step out of the cave dwelling, but as soon as he stepped forward, the entrance burst into thousands of purple thunders. The Daoist Non-Speaker was bathed in them, scaring him into quickly retreating and using his dust whisk to extinguish the mes on his body. See, I cante out. How can I rescue you? Theres a golden talisman written by Little Yun at the entrance of the cave dwelling. Just peel it off, and I cane out. Lu Yang looked at the Daoist Non-Speaker skeptically: Is it that simple? Its that simple. Little Yun once said, if someone peels off the talisman, it means my fate is not to be imprisoned here. Following the mandate of heaven, naturally, I should be released. Lu Yang moved closer to see, only to find that the golden talisman didnt have the usual strange patterns, but seven big characters left by the Eldest Senior Sister: I dare you to peel it off. (End of the chapter) Chapter 109: The Past of Daoist Non-Speaker Chapter 109: The Past of Daoist Non-Speaker Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang silently took two steps back, indicating he had no intention of removing the talisman. This way, if Eldest Senior Sister suddenly appeared, he could disassociate himself from the situation. The wise do not stand beside a shaky wall, probably describes this scenario perfectly. The talisman left by Eldest Senior Sister showed no signs of spiritual power fluctuations, meaning there was no danger in removing it, but Lu Yang dared not to. He would be risking his life to remove this talisman. Master, its not that your disciple is unfilial, but I only have one life, and theres an immortal in my spiritual space. If Eldest Senior Sister kills me, it would be two lives lost with one corpse, not worth it. Seeing Lu Yang hesitate, raising his hand then putting it down, Daoist Non-Speaker could easily guess his concerns. Lu Yang was not the first to react this way, and Daoist Non-Speaker was not surprised, chuckling, Its normal that you dont understand me. You can go and ask other elders about me. With a moreprehensive understanding, youll know Im not lying. However, dont tell them about Little Yun imprisoning me. Little Yun has managed the Dao Seeking Sect for ten years, some elders might not stand on my side. Lu Yang thought his master made sense. He knew his master was Daoist Non-Speaker, but never really looked into what kind of person he was. This might be an opportunity, thinking thus, he left the pine forest. After Lu Yang left, Daoist Non-Speaker scratched his head. He had asked several people to remove the talisman, but no one wanted to. Whats written on the talisman that scares them so much? He craned his neck and looked for a long time but couldnt see the talismans appearance. Lu Yang returned to the mission hall, only to be told that the Grand Elder had gone out on business and was not in the sect. Lu Yang, having no choice, went to the Second Elder at Yan Chuan Peak. Yan Chuan Peak was responsible for teaching some basic knowledge of cultivation. Lu Yang had crammed there for a month when he first joined the Dao Seeking Sect, but he had never seen the Second Elder before. Excuse me, brother, is the Second Elder here? Lu Yang asked a disciple who was on duty at Yan Chuan Peak. The brother looked at Lu Yang with a strange look: Youre looking for the Second Elder? Then you should go to the medicinal garden. The one lying at the entrance of the garden is him. Lu Yang was stunned, not expecting that the one who made him dig soil, Grandpa Ba, was the Second Elder. He thanked the brother and went to the medicinal garden. Sure enough, Grandpa Ba was there. Hmm? Want toe dig some more soil? Grandpa Ba asked with a chuckle. No, I just wanted to ask about my master. Old Nine, of course, I know. Grandpa Ba became spirited once he started talking about this. Old Nine? Yes, from the Grand Elder you know, to the Eighth Elder, and then to your master Daoist Non-Speaker, we were all taught by the same master. Your master is the youngest, thest to join our master, thus ranked ninth. Old Nine is a chatterbox, his mouth always going on non-stop. Have you seen Introduction to Cross-talk on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion? That was donated by Old Nine. Lu Yang nodded. He remembered very clearly when he saw Introduction to Cross-talk in the Scripture Pavilion; he was stunned for a long time, thinking he had gone to the wrong ce. Later, our master really didnt want to listen to Old Nine anymore, so he gave him the name Daoist Non-Speaker, hoping he would speak less. Lu Yang: Did it work? Its no use. Old nine said A wise man does not speak of supernatural forces and chaos, as long as he does not speak of them, all will be fine, and then his little mouth just kept babbling non-stop. That mouth of his really needed to be sewn shut. However, among us nine, Old Nine had the strongest cultivation talent. Of course, he couldnt bepared to Yun Zhi. I reckon Yun Zhis talent is rare through the ages. After our master retired, we nine had to decide who would be the sect leader. The eight of us unanimously agreed that Old Nine should take the position. Given his eloquence, we were sure hed do well. Old Nine refused at first, but we followed the rules of the jianghustrength dictates. Old Nine agreed to that. Then, the eight of us teamed up and gave Old Nine a beating, forcing him to take up the position of sect leader. Lu Yang recalled his masters mention of going through a bloody battle. It wasnt wrong to say so. Our judgment was indeed excellent. Old Nine had a talent for management and organized the sect well, clearing the previous atmosphere of decline. Of course, this might have something to do with his personality. Later on, somehow, ten years ago, Yun Zhi suddenly came to us, stating she would manage the sect from then on. We thought the younger generation would take over sooner orter, so it might as well be sooner. As for where Old Nine went, we didnt pay much attention. After all, were nearly two thousand years old, more flexible-minded than the young ones. Who knows where he might be hopping around now, could he even get lost? For cultivators like Grandpa Ba, their perception of time differs from ordinary people; ten years to them isnt considered long. After saying goodbye to Grandpa Ba, Lu Yang went to the Physical Cultivation Peak to find the Third Elder. Meng Jingzhou was at the Physical Cultivation Peak, and with his help, Lu Yang quickly found the Third Elder. The Third Elder was ying chess in the fields with an ancestor of the Blue-Eyed Water Buffalo n. The Third Elder, being short in stature, would not be associated with top-tier physical cultivation by Lu Yang if seen in the outside world. Lu Yang knew the Third Elder harbored an immensely terrifying power within, capable of moving mountains and filling seas with just a flick of his finger. His creation, the Heaven Shaking Six Forms, was coveted by all physical cultivators, wishing they could learn even a bit of it. Countless people dreamt of being under the Third Elders tutge but couldnt. Lu Yang also tried to find the ten water buffaloes he had once summoned in the fields, only to realize that all water buffaloes looked the same and couldnt be distinguished. Youre asking about Old Nine? Haha, then youvee to the right person. Old Nine was picked up by me, fed from a toddler! The Third Elder seemed to imply encountering him was Lu Yangs good fortune. Meng Jingzhou reminded softly, Master, its raised, not fed.'' The Third Elder waved his hand impatiently, Same thing, dont nitpick like the Fourth all the time. Old Nine was famously clever. He was the first among us nine to master the spell Minor Major As You Wish. Minor Major As You Wish is about changing ones size, right? Old Nine thought, what if it could be modified to change the size of parts of the body instead, not too much, just an inch or two longer or bigger for convenience. It would require less magical power to maintain, and it would be very popr among men and womenmen could erge certain parts, women could erge others. Following this idea, Old Nine actually managed to develop it. The Third Elder pped his thigh, marveling at Daoist Non-Speakers ingenious concept. He then wrote a new spell, Minor Major As You Wish (Localized Version). When the spell was released, it was wildly sought after. We made a fortune in spirit stones then, dining at the most expensive ces without caring for the cost, not even bothering to pick up spirit stones that fell on the ground. Unfortunately, the good times didntst. The Great Xia Dynasty quickly intervened to halt the sale of the spell, prohibiting its distribution. Why? They said it was obscene. Lu Yang: They probably werent wrong. (End of the chapter) Chapter 110: Ancient Language Translation Chapter 110: Ancient Language Trantion Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii It was apparent that the Third Elder held Daoist Non-Speaker in high regard, likely envious of what hecked himself. After saying goodbye to the Third Elder, Lu Yang proceeded to the Gentlemen Peak. Gentlemen Peak, the domain of the Fourth Elder, was elegant and cool, perpetually like summer. Everywhere you could see pavilions and streams, with bamboo green and tall, clearly a favored spot for schrs and poets to linger andpose poetry. Lu Yang wouldnt have been surprised if the bamboo suddenly started reciting sage quotes. Having seen various peculiar things in the Dao Seeking Sect, Lu Yangs mental resilience had be extremely strong. Lu Yang also encountered ck and white iron-eating beasts rolling around the mountain, disciples drinking and making merry, sshing ink to create paintings, then diving into those paintings to frolic with the figures within, utterly carefree. An iron-eating beast even nudged Lu Yang, nearly toppling him. It was ying with Lu Yang, who, busy with matters at hand, had to reason with the beast before it let him go, gifting him a half-chewed bamboo stalk on departure. Excuse me, brother, where can I find the Fourth Elder? Lu Yang, holding the half-eaten bamboo, respectfully inquired in front of a painting. The brother in question was highly aplished in the art of painting, almost reaching the point of creating lifelike illusions, truly terrifying. Hearing Lu Yang call out, the painter brother half emerged from the painting: Who are you? I am Lu Yang. Hearing Lu Yangs name, the painter brother had a moment of realization: Oh, I know you, the new Lu Yang, Yun Zhis disciple. Its Eldest Senior Sister who took me as a disciple on behalf of the master. I am Daoist Non-Speakers disciple, Lu Yang corrected him earnestly. My name is Ji Hongwen, and I joined the Dao Seeking Sect in the same year as Eldest Senior Sister. Im the Fourth Elders eldest disciple. This brother wasnt pretentious, not looking down on Lu Yang for his lower cultivation level. Nice to meet you, Brother Ji, Lu Yang said, surprised to meet someone from the same cohort as Eldest Senior Sister. He only knew Dai Bufan was from the same cohort as Eldest Senior Sister, one of the most senior disciples, with a cultivation level nearly matching the elders. Dai Bufan was highly trusted in handling affairs,manding great respect among the disciples. It was unexpected to meet another one now. By that reasoning, Brother Jis cultivation level wouldnt be low either. Bigwigs, unseen in an entire city or province outside, weremonce in the Dao Seeking Sect. You want to see the master? Come, he should be teaching students right now. Ji Hongwen floated out from the painting, with a flick of his hand, another person appeared in the painting. Only then did Lu Yang notice that Ji Hongwen wasnt alone in the painting; there was also an exquisitely beautiful woman. The woman seemed to have walked straight out of a water town in the Jiangnan area, her cheeks flushed with a tender red, gentle and elegant, her smile blossoming like flowers, her eyes conveying deep emotions. Her beauty was peerless, and her attire boldly revealing, enough to make a pure-hearted young man like Lu Yang blush. Ha ha, like what you see? I can draw one for you too, she can even keep youpany at night, Ji Hongwen joked, causing Lu Yang to shake his head vigorously. He needed to conserve his kidney energy. The breathtakingly beautiful woman clung to Ji Hongwens arm, looking at him with deep affection. Unbeknownst to Lu Yang, more people wished to learn this particr skill from Ji Hongwen than those who aspired to learn the Shaking Heaven Six Forms from the Third Elder. Led by Ji Hongwen, Lu Yang reached a private school nestled deep within the bamboo forest, where the Fourth Elder, serving as a teacher, Barbarian Bone, who was said to be uncarvable, and earnest students identified as A, B, C, and D were present. The Fourth Elder was exining ancient text interpretations: looking southwest across the pool, the shapes twist and turn like a coiling snake, visible in shes. The banks are jagged like interlocking canine teeth, its source unknown Now, Barbarian Bone, trante this for us, The banks are jagged like interlocking canine teeth, its source unknown means what? Barbarian Bone, head lowered in thought, confidently said, There are two dogs fighting by the bank, and its unclear why. The Fourth Elder silently closed the ancient book, rolled up his sleeves, and took out a ruler. Just as he was about to strike Barbarian Bones hand, he remembered the sages earnest teachingsto educate without discrimination, tailoring the method to the student. He had seen Barbarian Bones hard work; the kid was good at heart. This trantion must have been an ident. Ill ask him an easier question. If he answers correctly, I wont need to hit him, giving him a way out. Princes and generals, do they have a kind of their own? What does this sentence mean? ording to historical records, when the Great Yu Dynasty disintegrated ten thousand years ago, the royalty and nobility of the Great Yu Dynasty stood up, rallying under a banner to reunify the world, restoring the rule of the Great Yu Dynasty. People deeply believed in the concept of bloodline, thinking that the blood of the Great Yu Dynasty was inherently noble. The ims of the royalty and nobility won over many hearts. However, an ancestor of Emperor Xia, having suffered under the nobility, knew how rotten they were at the core. They were lofty, indulgent in pleasure, oblivious to the peoples suffering and the difficulties of cultivation. Each of them, nourished by rare treasures from a young age, their cultivation levels soared. Such people, even if they could establish a new Great Yu Dynasty, would soon corrupt it again. As a man of insight, Emperor Xias ancestor raised his arm in a call to action, saying, Princes and generals, do they have a kind of their own? bing an eternal famous saying, passed down through ages. Even Barbarian Bone, of barbarian descent, had heard this phrase and greatly admired the courage of Emperor Xias ancestor. This means, princes and generals, do you have the guts? The room burst intoughter. Without hesitation, the Fourth Elder took up the ruler and struck the hand, causing Barbarian Bone to grimace in pain. Barbarian Bone couldnt understand where he went wrong, challenging the nobility to their face with such great courage. Wasnt that the meaning of the phrase? Lu Yang, standing at the doorway, silently attended the ss, mourning for Barbarian Bone for three seconds. Ji Hongwen, witnessing this scene, shook his head and chuckled: I wonder what went through Barbarian Bones mind. Being of ancient barbarian descent and ignoring the Third Elders supreme techniques to follow our master, hes been disciplined quite a bit this year. But Ive noticed hes be sharper since returning from his mission. Do you know why? Lu Yang shook his head, clueless. Right, does the way the Fourth Elder strikes the hand seem to follow some pattern, or is it just my imagination? Facing Ji Hongwens skeptical look, Lu Yang quickly changed the subject. Ji Hongwen looked at Lu Yang with a hint of surprise: Youre not wrong. Its actually a method to stimte the bloodline, but its too painful, and few can endure it. The master is using this method to activate Brother Barbarian Bones ancient barbarian bloodline. Remember, dont tell Brother Barbarian Bone about this. Lu Yang nodded. After the ss, you can find him. With that, Ji Hongwen left, holding the hand of the exquisite beauty. ss time always feels exceptionally long. As the Fourth Elder lectured for a quarter of an hour, Lu Yang felt as if several hours had passed. Finally, the Fourth Elder ended the ss, encountering the inquisitive Lu Yang. Youre asking about Old Nine, who is devious, mischievous, and full of schemes? Lu Yang: Thank you, I think I already know what kind of person my master is. (End of the chapter) Chapter 111: And You Want to Be Released Like This? Chapter 111: And You Want to Be Released Like This? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The Fourth Elder was the epitome of a Confucian cultivator, dressed in an immacte white robe, holding a paper fan, walking steadily and dealing with people gently,prehensive in his approach to life, treating all disciples equally: You should keep your distance from Old Nine. Fortunately, he has disappeared recently and hasnt brought you any trouble. You should cherish the opportunity to learn from Yun Zhi. Theres no future in learning from Old Nine. The sage said a gentlemans character consists of five virtues: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness. Old Nine doesnt embody any of these, engaging in all kinds of deceitful practices. I cant count how many times Ive had to pull him out of the celestial prison. Do you know what your masters ultimate sword technique is? Lu Yang replied, Ive heard from Eldest Senior Sister about it. Its the transformation of one sword into ten thousand swords. When fully executed, a single sword can transform into millions, overwhelming like dark clouds over a city, covering the sky, contemptuous in all directions. After ying the enemy, the ten thousand swords return to one, without a drop of blood. When Lu Yang first heard Eldest Senior Sister describe it, he aspired to such freedom and elegance, believing it to be the epitome of sword cultivation. The Fourth Elder nodded, Right, one sword transforms into ten thousand. Old Nine, being a sword spirit root, is indeed a rare sword cultivation genius. Not many sword cultivators in the world can reach his level. Lu Yang found it strange; he always felt the Fourth Elders tone carried a mix of grinding teeth, disdain, and frustrated expectations? That was probably the feeling. The Fourth Elder continued, There was once when Old Nine executed his sword technique, transforming one sword into ten thousand, and sold those transformed swords to the Land of Gold Commerce. After receiving the payment, he then performed the ten thousand swords return to one. If I hadnt stepped in to smooth things over and calmed down themerce leaders anger, your master would still be in prison! Lu Yang: His master was indeed in prison now, so it seemed like karma. Also, have you heard of the Minor Major As You Wish (Localized Version) spell? I just heard about it from the Third Elder. This spells existence shouldnt be spread. Nowadays, young disciples are unaware of this spell. If we go back a hundred years, new disciples would fight to be Old Nines disciples just to learn it. Fortunately, Niece Yun Zhi understood the bigger picture and destroyed the copies of this spell. The original was kept in the upper levels of the scripture pavilion, and with deliberate concealment, now no disciples mor to learn such spells. The Fourth Elder looked pained, The morals of the world are deteriorating. Lu Yang didnt have the heart to tell the Fourth Elder that he actually also wanted to learn this spell. Sorry, Im reflecting. The Fourth Elders tone softened a bit, Nevertheless, Old Nine does have his merits. At least after he became the sect leader, our Dao Seeking Sect has be much stronger than before. Of course, its not all his doing, the eight of us also yed a significant role. Lu Yang wasnt sure if the Fourth Elder wasplimenting his master or himself. Why are you suddenly curious about what kind of person your Old Nine is? Lu Yang chuckled, Oh, nothing much, just that Ive never seen him since I became his disciple and was a bit curious. Curiosity is good, but dont waste it on Old Nine. After asking three people, Lu Yang had a pretty good idea of what kind of person his master really was. And he still wants to be released? The Heavens Mysteries Sect is located on the eastern side of the continent, covering a vast area. From above, the Heavens Mysteries Sect looks like an inverted eight trigrams, a spectacr sight. The Heavens Mysteries Sect is serene and sparsely popted, resembling a hidden sect in deep mountains and forests, quiet yet formidable. However, the main reason for the Heavens Mysteries Sects quietness was that they had dispatched their disciples to repay debts, leaving very few people behind in the vast sect. Cutting expenses and refining the heart in the mundane world was killing two birds with one stone. A shout broke the serene atmosphere of the Heavens Mysteries Sect. Master, Master, Im back! Luobu ran into the sect and directly sought his master. Upon hearing his disciples shout, the Sect Master of the Heavens Mysteries Sect emerged from his cave dwelling: My good disciple, why have you returned so soon? Have you thought of a way to clear our debts? Luobu, panting heavily, replied: Not yet. While I was traveling and fortune-telling for people, I encountered a troublesome person. I wanted toe back and alert the sect to be more cautious. Sit down and tell me slowly. After catching his breath, Luobu said: I traveled to Yanjiang County. Being penniless at the time, I thought of simply telling a few fortunes, swindling some unlucky folks for money. Coincidentally, I met three Dao Seeking Sect disciples and a disciple from the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, all easy targets. I didnt n to seriously tell fortunes, just to get by, but what I didnt expect was that one of them was extraordinarily unusual. That person, named Lu Yang, though not highly cultivated and just beginning in cultivation, has an extremely terrifying future. The Sect Master of the Heavens Mysteries Sect was intrigued: Are you suggesting we invest in him early, and when he bes sessful, he helps us repay our debts? Luobu quickly quashed his masters dangerous thought: No, no, no. I saw that Lu Yangs future is destined to be entangled with several immortals. Entangled with several immortals?! eximed the Sect Master of Heavens Mysteries Sect. Normally, being entangled with one immortal could easily lead to annihtion, yet this Lu Yang would have significant karma with several immortals and still not die? What they in the Heavens Mysteries Sect feared most was getting involved with individuals bearing heavy karma. It was not conducive to transcendence; the heavier the karma, the more difficult the cultivation. Struggling to free oneself would only tighten the karmic bonds. More than that, I also discovered that Lu Yang will spread the Dao Seeking Sects bad practices throughout the cultivation world. The Sect Master of the Heavens Mysteries Sect gasped in shock, Why didnt you say something this important earlier? Compared to this, what does karma with immortals count for? Having karma with immortals means his future achievements are significant, but spreading the Dao Seeking Sects bad practices shows ack of judgment! In short, we must avoid contact with the Dao Seeking Sect as much as possible, especially that Lu Yang. The farther away, the better! Suddenly, the Sect Master of the Heavens Mysteries Sects expression changed. Whats wrong, Master? A very domineering presence is flying towards our Heavens Mysteries Sect. I suspect theye with ill intent. Activate the defensive formation immediately! Decisively, the Sect Master of the Heavens Mysteries Sect activated the sects protective formation. The formation nodes lit up like stars in the night sky, forming an Eight Trigrams pattern. The gigantic Eight Trigrams formation covered Heavens Mysteries Sect, imprable, with eightplex directions making it difficult to find an exit. Once trapped within, it would take a lifetimes effort to unravel the mystery of the formation. Many powerful cultivators at the Unity Stage have returned without sess, and some with ill intentions were even trapped to death! The power of the Heavens Mysteries Sects protective formation was evident! Seeing the Heavens Mysteries Sect activate its protective formation, the approaching figure didnt slow down, disying an unrivaled arrogance. Facing theplex formation, the visitor stretched out a hand and shattered the formation with a p. Only then did the Sect Master of the Heavens Mysteries Sect see the appearance of the visitor, graceful and divine, untouchable. Dao Seeking Sects Yun Zhi hase to visit the Supreme Elder of Heavens Mysteries Sect. I request an audience. The Sect Master of the Heavens Mysteries Sect turned pale. Speak of the Dao Seeking Sect and the Dao Seeking Sect shows up! (TL Note: This is a y on the saying ˵ܲ٣ܲٵ. ܲ (Cao Cao) was a famous military general and the saying trantes into Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao shows up. It originates from the romance of the three kingdoms where an emperor was attacked and someone suggested to call Cao Cao to help rescue the emperor but Cao Cao arrived just as they wanted to call him. Its the chinese version of Speak of the devil.) (End of the chapter) Chapter 112: The Reason Daoist Non-Speaker Was Imprisoned Chapter 112: The Reason Daoist Non-Speaker Was Imprisoned Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Apart from the status of the Five Great Immortal Sects, Dao Seeking Sect is also a notorious entity in the cultivation world, akin to parents warning their children not to associate with the bad kids. Elders often admonish their disciples not to get involved with Dao Seeking Sect. However, there are always disciples who defy such warnings and mingle with Dao Seeking Sect, to the dismay of many. Take Lan Ting, for example. Fortunately, the higher-ups in the cultivation world recognize that Dao Seeking Sect is not beyond redemption. Since the disappearance of the previous sect master of Dao Seeking Sect, and with Yun Zhi seeding him, there has been a noticeable improvement in the sects atmospheremainly, Dao Seeking Sect now only harms its own members, not others. If Dao Seeking Sect were considered a mental institution, then Yun Zhi would be the director, one of the few sane individuals. A visit from Yun Zhi is always preferable to others. A cheerful voice emanated from beneath Heavens Mysteries Sect, and in the blink of an eye, an ancient figure appeared in front of Yun Zhi. Daoist Dao Ye. Yun Zhi bowed. Daoist Dao Ye, the Supreme Elder of Heavens Mysteries Sect, is an old fossil in the cultivation world, with few living as long as he has. He keeps a low profile and has never revealed his true cultivation level. What brings Daoist friend here? Daoist Dao Ye addressed Yun Zhi respectfully, using the term Daoist friend. I have questions regarding immortals. Please. Daoist Dao Ye invited Yun Zhi into a secret room within the sect and served her tea. What exactly does Daoist friend wish to inquire about immortals? How much do you know about the Undying Being? Daoist Dao Ye showed a troubled expression, smiling wryly, Undying Being? Daoist friend has indeed asked a good question. The Undying Being is the most mysterious of the ancient five immortals. Had it not been for the Undying Sect adamantly iming to have found relics with records of the Undying Being, I wouldnt have known of its existence. And even with the relics, its not guaranteed to be true. I hold a skeptical view towards the existence of the Undying Being. How so? Relics found more than ten thousand years ago are considered ancient to us now, but does ancient automatically equate to truth? I heard the relics are from the Great Gan era, but what of it? That era is part of the new epoch, tens of thousands of years removed from the ancient times. Its entirely possible for someone in the Great Gan era to create a nonsensical relic, wait a couple of hundred thousand years for someone to stumble upon it, exim in awe at its ancientness, and believe whatever is recorded on it to be true. If there really was an Undying Being, then why is there no other evidence to corroborate its existence aside from this relic? Many caves and heavens from the Great Gan era have been excavated, yet where are the records of the Undying Being? Yun Zhi nodded, finding Daoist Dao Yes argument somewhat reasonable: You know I recently located the headquarters of the Undying Sect, but unfortunately, they fled too quickly, and I didnt catch anyone. However, I did learn some things from the materials they left behind. In reality, Yun Zhi didnt obtain any intelligence from the headquarters, choosing not to divulge Lu Yangs situation for safety reasons. Im interested to hear more. ording to the Undying Sect, the characteristic of the Undying Beings Dao fruit can be described as indestructible. As long as someone recites the Undying Beings name and immortal title, the Undying Being can be revived. Daoist Dao Yes pupils contracted, shocked by such a characteristic. It meant that dying was virtually impossible. Each immortals Dao fruit possesses unique characteristics; indeed, this does not seem false. After a moment of contemtion, Daoist Dao Ye added, However, this is still only the word of the Undying Sect. I stand by my view; this is akin to creating immortals. The method is simr to that of The Great Xia Dynasty, where a non-existent immortal was fabricated by some hidden forces using the belief in the Undying Sect. Over time, as faith umtes, the Undying Being gradually manifests. When the power of belief reaches a certain threshold, the Undying Being would materialize out of nothing. Yun Zhi did not refute but listened quietly to Daoist Dao Yes theory. Given that the Undying Being had already been revived, it certainly wasnt a case of creating an immortal. However, the theory of creating an immortal did have its merits, and it was possible that the other three demonic sects were attempting such a feat. After thanking Daoist Dao Ye, Yun Zhi left gracefully. The Sect Master of Heavens Mysteries Sect, recalling how Yun Zhi easily tore through the formation, approached Daoist Dao Ye with lingering fear: Ancestor, how powerful is Yun Zhi? Has she be an immortal? Dont ask; I know nothing. After visiting many individuals, with Daoist Dao Ye being thest, Yun Zhi returned directly to her sect. Meanwhile, Lu Yang returned to Heavens Gate Peak to consult his master again. So, what did the other senior brothers say? Did they mention how Dao Seeking Sect has grown stronger under my leadership? Daoist Non-Speaker was brimming with pride, confident in his indelible contribution to the development of Dao Seeking Sect. Lu Yang looked at his master with aplicated expression: Indeed, your contributions are significant, but everyone hopes that Eldest Senior Sister will manage the sect. Daoist Non-Speakers spirits deted, seeming to lose all hope: Is that so? Well, let her have the position of sect master then. Its only natural for a new generation to rece the old. Its not right for a disciple to imprison their master in a power struggle, as it would tarnish the reputation of Dao Seeking Sect. Release me, and I will leave far away, never to speak of the position of sect master again, never to return to Dao Seeking Sect. How about it? Daoist Non-Speaker proposed. Lu Yang hesitated, finding Daoist Non-Speakers words reasonable. His master didnt seem like the type to engage in a power struggle. Just as he contemted whether to release his master, a cold voice came from above. Master, do you really want to go out like this? Daoist Non-Speakers expression changed drastically upon hearing this voice. Lu Yang looked up, surprised and delighted to see Eldest Senior Sister returning: Eldest Senior Sister! Yun Zhi hummed softly,nding gently without stirring a speck of dust. Master, to think of deceiving your junior brother just to get out? Yun Zhis words, devoid of any worldly concern, sounded to Daoist Non-Speaker like a volcano about to erupt, extremely terrifying. Deception? Lu Yang pondered, wondering if everything his master told him was a lie. What was the truth? Lu Yangs mind raced, quickly arriving at a significant possibility! Had his master sumbed to demonic possession, and did Eldest Senior Sister, in a righteous act, suppress him here? Considering the shame of airing dirtyundry, she might have kept the incident of his possession from the other elders. Was his master trying to trick him into removing the talisman while Eldest Senior Sister was away, to wreak havoc in the world? That was a close call, thankfully Eldest Senior Sister arrived. Eldest Senior Sister continued: Look at the sect masters of other immortal sects, all diligently cultivating. And you? Idling away your days. Have youpleted the daily cultivation tasks I assigned? Have you made any breakthroughs in your cultivation level? Having achieved nothing, you still wish to go out and y? Daoist Non-Speaker was at a loss for words, unable to speak. Lu Yang: What was I even thinking? How could such melodramatic events possibly happen in Dao Seeking Sect! (End of the chapter) Chapter 113: Lu Yangs Three Questions Chapter 113: Lu Yangs Three Questions Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Well, its not exactly like that. Cultivation is about bncing work and rest. As they say, from extreme stillnesses movement. If you stay in one ce for too long, you need to go out and walk around. Think about it, Little Yun. The purpose of cultivation is to achieve eternal life and freedom. If we spend all our time in closed-door cultivation, sitting in meditation, then cultivation bes nothing more than a prison sentence, which is putting the cart before the horse, Daoist Non-Speaker said earnestly. As someone who frequents the celestial prison, he indeed has a unique perspective on imprisonment that others do not. Moreover, there are two types of cultivation: worldly cultivation and reclusive cultivation, right? I am a typical example of a worldly cultivator. Only by immersing myself in the mundane world and experiencing life can Iprehend the Dao of immortality and achieve breakthroughs! Lu Yang had heard of this concept before. Cultivators who became officials in The Great Xia Dynasty were considered worldly cultivators, while those from the Five Great Immortal Sects leaned towards reclusive cultivation. However, few were as purely reclusive as Eldest Senior Sister. No matter how eloquently Daoist Non-Speaker spoke, Yun Zhi remained unmoved, not even lifting an eyelid. Master, when you taught me, you said that pressure creates motivation, and diligence is key in cultivation. A days n lies in the morning, and a years n lies in spring. You advocated for cultivation from morning till night, extremely diligent. Indeed, Yun Zhi practiced as Daoist Non-Speaker had taught, from dawn to dusk, with extraordinary dedication. Yun Zhi was already a rare genius, and with her diligent cultivation, her progress was rapid. When the Immortal Sect Conference was held, Yun Zhi stood out from the rest, taking the top spot. Traditionally, the five sect masters would critique the champion for their shorings, and some, worried about the champion bing arrogant, would challenge the champion to a fight. Then, Yun Zhi defeated all five sect masters, leaving them utterly vanquished. By the next Immortal Sect Conference, while the disciples fought hard on the stage, Yun Zhi sat among the sect masters, right in the center, giving her critiques. Daoist Non-Speaker thought to himself that he wanted her to diligently cultivate, improve her cultivation level, take over as sect master so he could sneak out for some fun. Of course, these were words Daoist Non-Speaker could never utter aloud. Yun Zhi had no aversion to cultivation; on the contrary, she enjoyed the process. During cultivation, she felt an unprecedented peace, as if she was one with the world, clearly feeling her own strength grow. After cultivating, she felt refreshed and clear-headed. Why wouldnt she enjoy it? Fine, if you want toe out, thene out Yun Zhi said indifferently, her tone softening. Daoist Non-Speaker was overjoyed, thinking all his talking wasnt in vain and Little Yun finally agreed to let him out. By your own ability. Yun Zhi finished her sentence and turned to leave. Daoist Non-Speaker opened his mouth but was at a loss for words. If he could leave by his own ability, he would have done so already! Lu Yang, you Daoist Non-Speaker wanted to call Lu Yang back to plead on his behalf. Lu Yang gave a look that said, Youre on your own, and hurried after Eldest Senior Sister. Choosing between the all-powerful Eldest Senior Sister, who suppressed Dao Seeking Sect, and the imprisoned master was an easy choice. My young disciple, dont go. Just help me remove the talisman, and Ill teach you One Sword Bes Ten Thousand Swords. Thousands of swords floating in the air, their bright tips pointing downwards, giving you an advantage in morale before the battle even starts! Can it defeat Eldest Senior Sister? Lu Yang ran back, asking. As a sword cultivator, who wouldnt want to learn a spectacr and awe-inspiring sword technique? The power isnt important; whats important is that it looks cool! Daoist Non-Speaker shook his head, and seeing this, Lu Yang turned to leave again. Daoist Non-Speaker hurriedly said, I can also teach you the True Understanding of Sword Dao, allowing you to have a deeper understanding of the sword dao. When you reach the pinnacle of sword dao, you can break all spells with a single sword, unbeatable among your peers! Can it defeat Eldest Senior Sister? Daoist Non-Speaker shook his head, and Lu Yang, seeing this, was about to leave again. Daoist Non-Speaker quickly spoke up: I can also teach you the Four Absolute Sword Formations. Once deployed, the formations power soars to the heavens, severing the lifeforce of all, withering and flourishing all beings, sweeping away all enemies! Can it defeat Eldest Senior Sister? Daoist Non-Speaker, frustrated, eximed: Rebellious disciple, if I could defeat her, would I still be imprisoned here? Lu Yang found his masters argument reasonable, so he chose to stand with Eldest Senior Sister. Eldest Senior Sister, Ive also discovered another issue during my mission. What is it? Ive found that our Five Great Immortal Sects reputation is too low. Many people are unaware of us. When faced with demonic or evil urrences, they can only rely on the officials. If the officials dont intervene, theyre left with no choice but to wait helplessly. The Great Xia Dynasty is short-staffed and, due to pride, finds it inconvenient to seek help from the Five Great Immortal Sects. Themon people end up suffering in this process. This issue was discovered by Lu Yang in Song Mountain. Although the old hunter acting as a ghost was putting on a show, his ignorance of Dao Seeking Sect wasnt an act. While in Yanjiang County, Lu Yang also casually inquired and found thatmoners had very limited knowledge about the upper echelons, including the Five Great Immortal Sects. Yun Zhi was somewhat surprised, as she had never paid attention to this issue, nor had anyone from the Five Great Immortal Sects noticed it. She attended the annual Immortal Sect Summit and had never heard this issue raised. Thats indeed a problem. Compile the affairs of Dao Seeking Sect into books and disseminate them among the people? Lu Yang, eager to contribute, offered his method: Writing books is indeed an excellent way to spread information, but as far as I know, literacy rates among themon folk are low, and not many can afford books. Perhaps turning the stories of Dao Seeking Sect into storytelling scripts could also be a good method. Storytelling? Yun Zhi was unfamiliar with this area, whereas Daoist Non-Speaker was an expert, having donated the Complete Collection of Crosstalk to the scripture library. Yes, storytelling. Before I joined Dao Seeking Sect, my knowledge of cultivation came from a storyteller. The quality of storytelling varies greatly nowadays, with significant inconsistencies and partial understandings of cultivation, easily leading to misconceptions about it. If we turn the stories of Dao Seeking Sect into storytelling scripts, theyre sure to be popr! Lu Yang said, his enthusiasm evident as he clenched his fists. Do the affairs of Dao Seeking Sect have anything extraordinary enough to attract people? Eldest Senior Sister still had her doubts. Lu Yang thought, if the affairs of Dao Seeking Sect are considered ordinary, what level of absurdity does the cultivation world reach? Eldest Senior Sister, focused on cultivation, is likely unaware of themon knowledge issues and the public opinion of Dao Seeking Sect outside. Lu Yang believed that with Eldest Senior Sisters cultivation level, no one from the other immortal sects would dare speak ill of Dao Seeking Sect to her face. There will definitely be no issue! Lu Yang asserted confidently. Then, who in Dao Seeking Sect is suitable for writing storytelling scripts and handling external publicity? Yun Zhi pondered, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. I can rmend someone who will undoubtedly be up to the task! Who? Master. (End of the chapter) Chapter 114: Eldest Senior Sister, Have I Learned It? Chapter 114: Eldest Senior Sister, Have I Learned It? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii When Daoist Non-Speaker learned that there was a chance for him to be released, he was so eager that he almost begged Lu Yang to be his master, frightening Lu Yang into quickly saying that it was not necessary. Lu Yang shared his thoughts with Daoist Non-Speaker, who also felt that Lu Yangs points were very reasonable. Indeed, we have overlooked the role of propaganda. Themon people know too little about cultivation, the five major immortal gates, and other sects. Daoist Non-Speaker stroked his beard in thought: Compiling a storytelling book rted to the Dao Seeking Sect is indeed a technical task, let me ponder on this for a moment. Our Dao Seeking Sect has a history of 120,000 years, which can be divided into three stages: the creation of the sect by the Primordial Daoist, the elevation of our sect into one of the five major immortal gates by the Return-to-the-Origin Celestial, and the resurgence initiated by the Ancestral Master Hanhai. Each stage has many stories worth telling, just the beginning of the Primordial Daoist asking the universe for directions can reveal a lot. Lu Yang thought to himself that his master was indeed worthy of admiration for being able to turn the Primordial Daoists getting lost into such a noble quest, this skill alone was worth learning for a while. Of course, we cant leave out the current affairs, which are the key points. For example, regarding myself, it cannot be said that I was picked up by the third one; it should be changed to being born naturally from the earth, a person born for a destined time, holding a short sword at birth, with the character Kill inscribed on the hilt cough, Im just joking, I wouldnt really say that. Daoist Non-Speaker faced the icy gaze of Eldest Senior Sister and instantly backed down: I will definitely describe it truthfully, without a hint of falsehood! Daoist Non-Speaker spoke in a negotiating tone: My dear disciple, can you release your master first? Regarding the matter of the Dao Seeking Sect ying demons and supporting the righteous path, your eight martial uncles are the ones involved. For the purpose ofpiling the storytelling book, I must ask them about the detailed process, so as to have room to borate. Yun Zhi thought this made sense, so she prepared to let her master go. Then, Yun Zhi left directly, making Daoist Non-Speaker anxious, he called out from behind: My dear disciple, you havent released your master yet! Without turning her head back, Yun Zhi said: You sit in meditation in the cave for three days, and the barrier will disappear by itself. Lu Yang thought to himself, so it turns out his master was confined for ten years because he never continuously meditated for three days, no wonder Eldest Senior Sister was reluctant to release him. Lu Yang hurriedly followed Eldest Senior Sister and earnestly said: Eldest Senior Sister, I want to learn a spell that can be cast with just my mouth. Why is that? When Im fighting, I find that my feet can dodge and attack, and my hands can wield a sword and throw hidden weapons, all have their uses, except for my mouth. Think about it, Im in a stalemate with an enemy, weapons shing, neither of us getting the upper hand. If I suddenly cast a spell with my mouth, catching them off guard, I guarantee I can win! Yun Zhi couldnt understand what Lu Yang meant by in a stalemate with an enemy, as her battles were always overwhelming. However, since Lu Yang wanted to learn, she had no reason to stop him. I know of a method, after mastering it, you can exhale the breath of metallic essence, which can cut through anything. It requires a metal spirit root constitution, your sword spirit root is barely rted, but it needs a few moments to umte power, and you cant perform any other actions during umtion. Lu Yang shook his head: Its too limited, suitable for sneak attacks, but rarely usable in directbat. How about Samadhi True Fire then? It umtes power in the stomach, and once unleashed, the upper, middle, and lower Samadhi True Fires are unstoppable unless extinguished by a rootless water. However, the difficulty of learning is high, and it might take several months to master. You have never studied the Five Elements spells before, so its uncertain how talented you are in this area. Yun Zhi suddenly fell silent, remembering that the first Five Elements spell Lu Yang learned was the Earth Shrinking technique. Lu Yang was thrilled at the prospect of learning the famous Samadhi True Fire. If there was a chance to learn it, he definitely wanted to try, and even if he failed, at least he would have no regrets. I want to learn the Samadhi True Fire. Seeing Lu Yang making his choice, Yun Zhi didnt stop him and took him to the ce where he first started his cultivation. There, Lu Yang had a memorable experience of sessfully drawing Qi into his body for the first time while trying to scoop tofu with a jar. Yun Zhi exined calmly, The so-called Samadhi True Fire refers to three types of fire: divine, essence, and mundane. Its somewhat simr but different from the ssifications of the River Spirit Axe. The heart is the monarch fire, also called the divine fire, named Upper Samadhi; the kidneys are the minister fire, also called the essence fire, named Middle Samadhi; and the dder, or the sea of Qi below the navel, is the peoples fire, named Lower Samadhi. When casting the Samadhi True Fire, you must focus on the three areas of the heart, kidneys, and dder. Ive told you before to keep the kidney water always full, and this is why. The human body contains the Five Elements, and most Five Elements spells rely on the five organs, so the kidney water is crucial. Ill demonstrate for you, just watch. Yun Zhi targeted arge tree, opened her mouth, and expelled a stream of Samadhi True Fire, turning a tree as thick as a hug into ashes in an instant, so fast that Lu Yang couldnt even react in time! This was the result with Yun Zhi intentionally reducing its power. If she used her full strength, its questionable whether Heavens Gate Peak would remain standing. Have you learned it? Lu Yang hesitated. Eldest Senior Sisters teaching methods were always mysterious, depending on ones ownprehension: Ill give it a try. He had created the Enlightenment of Heart and Nature Technique, capable of discerning the essence of things, also motivated by the desire to learn the spell taught by Eldest Senior Sister. It was time to showcase the power of his unique technique! Lu Yang gathered his spiritual power, focusing on his heart, kidneys, and dder, and with a fierce exhtion, spit saliva three meters away! Samadhi True Fire! Lu Yang, refusing to give up, shouted again, and spit saliva three meters away! Pah! Pah! Lu Yang kept casting spells, eventually leaving him dry-mouthed and parched. The Samadhi True Fire was indeed difficult to master. Seeing Lu Yangs struggles, Yun Zhi handed him a gourd. After drinking from it, Lu Yang found it exceptionally sweet, like ambrosia. What kind of water is this? Its so sweet! Sugar water. Lu Yang: Can sugar water be anything but sweet? Lu Yang persisted, practicing from noon until evening, and finally began to grasp the technique. This time, Ill definitely seed. Samadhi True Fire, go! Lu Yang, mustering all his strength and circting his spiritual power through the microcosmic orbit, forcefully exhaled. A fierce ze shot from his mouth, scorching arge tree and making it crackle loudly! I did it! Lu Yang smiled, confident in his talent for learning spells, mastering in an afternoon what might take others months. Yun Zhi, observing the fire closely, felt something was amiss. Approaching the me, she picked up a small bit, rubbed it between her fingers, and tasted it. Sweet? Why would fire have a taste? Cast it again. Confused, Lu Yang expelled the true fire again, and Yun Zhi tasted it: Salty? One more time. After another taste, Yun Zhi said, Spicy? After several tests, Yun Zhi discovered that although Lu Yangs mes were powerful, they had a unique taste, alternating between sweet, salty, and spicy. An excited Lu Yang asked, Eldest Senior Sister, have I learned it? Yun Zhi looked at Lu Yang strangely, Youve learned it, but what youve learned is the Three-vors True Fire. Three-vors True Fire? (TL Note: Samadhi True Fire in Chinese is . The is one stroke away from ζ which means vor. So when trying to learn the , he learnt the ζ by mistake. Its again another word y which cant be tranted into English well. By the way, the Samadhi True Fire is from Journey To The West and is learnt by Red Boy which enables him to shoot fire inextinguishable by water and smoke from his eyes, nostrils and mouth. Samdhi is the Sanskrit word for concentration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Boy) (End of the chapter) Chapter 115: No Longer Resigned to Just Barbecue Chapter 115: No Longer Resigned to Just Barbecue Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Three-vors True Fire? Lu Yang was confused, thinking to himself whether Eldest Senior Sister couldnt differentiate between and ζ (TL Note: See the exnation in the ). The two words only looked simr but were pronounced entirely differently. Then, Lu Yang thought that Eldest Senior Sisters level of education was probably higher than his own. Lu Yang forced a calm smile and joked: Hahaha, Eldest Senior Sister, you really have a sense of humor. You taught me the Samadhi True Fire, how could I possibly learn the Three-vors True Fire? Its impossible, absolutely impossible. Yun Zhi did not exin but signaled to a puppet to fetch a piece of demon beast meat from the kitchen. Yun Zhi somehow made the demon beast meat spin in mid-air: Roast it with the true fire. Lu Yang exhaled true fire, and the demon beast meat sizzled, quickly releasing a delicious aroma that made Lu Yang swallow saliva. Although Lu Yangs true fire was not as powerful as the one Yun Zhi demonstrated, it was still much stronger than ordinary mes, and it didnt take long for the demon beast meat to be roasted. Try it yourself, Yun Zhi said. Using his finger as a knife, Lu Yang sliced off a small piece and put it in his mouth, and it was delicious enough to bite their tongue. The piece of demon beast meat had no seasonings added, yet it gave Lu Yang a sensation of being seasoned with salt, enhanced with sugar, and spiced up with chili peppers. It was indeed the Three-vors True Fire. There must be a problem somewhere. Lu Yang analyzed seriously. He had followed the method taught by Eldest Senior Sister step by step, with such a great expert personally demonstrating, it was impossible to make a mistake! Let me try again, Im sure I can seed! Yun Zhi nodded, Its good that you have this determination. Tonights dinner will be up to you then, it will also help consolidate what youve learned today. After saying this, Yun Zhi turned around and went back to her cave to meditate, leaving her meal to Lu Yang. No, wait, I didnt mean that Lu Yang felt that Eldest Senior Sister had misunderstood his determination, but by the time he tried to rify, Eldest Senior Sister was already far away, leaving only the puppet forpany. Lu Yang sighed and called the puppet to the kitchen with him. It was Lu Yangs first time in the Heavens Gate Peak kitchen. He had never cooked before, as it had always been the puppets preparing meals. With the daily exhaustion from training, there was no energy left for cooking. Eldest Senior Sisters specialized kitchen wasrger than a gym from his previous life, with a dazzling array of ingredients neatly disyed and several meters high demon beast corpses visible everywhere. These demon beasts, imposing even in death, must have been formidable beings before their unfortunate encounters with Eldest Senior Sister, who killed them with a single strike, so fast they didnt even realize they were dead. Lu Yang had some basic cooking skills, but those were limited to ordinary ingredients. He didnt recognize any of the ingredientsid out before him. What should I make? What does Eldest Senior Sister like to eat? It seems she eats a little of everything at meals, without showing a particr preference for anything? The master likes barbecue the most. A sudden voice startled Lu Yang. Turning around, Lu Yang saw it was the puppet speaking. The puppet, made of wood and resembling a female figure, had an uncarved face. The puppet had been with Lu Yang since his first day of cultivation, but he had never known it could speak. Why are you looking at me? the puppet spoke again, confirming to Lu Yang this wasnt his imagination. You can speak? Why havent I heard you speak before? Why would I want to talk to an idiot? You Lu Yang was at a loss for words. If he could, he would have dismantled the so-called puppet right there and then. You say Eldest Senior Sister likes barbecue? Howe Ive never seen her eat it? Lu Yang looked at the puppet suspiciously. He knew about a spell called Puppetry and that masters of Puppetry were known as Puppeteers. There was even a sectposed entirely of Puppeteers within the first-ss factions. But what he didnt know was the extent of Puppetrys capabilities, including such high intelligence. Does this speak to the exceptional nature of Eldest Senior Sisters puppet? The master does not have the habit of revealing personal preferences to outsiders, the puppet replied to Lu Yang with a tone that seemed to disdain further conversation. See the Kui ox on your right? Chop off its thigh. The master likes that part. Ill trust you this time. Lu Yang felt the puppet had no reason to deceive him. He took out his Qingfeng sword and aimed a strike at the Kui oxs thigh. The oxs body surface glowed, bouncing Lu Yang away and sending him crashing into a pile of flour, covering him in white. Cough, cough, what level was this ox when it was alive? Lu Yang was certain that the oxs cultivation level must have been outrageously high, to the point that it remained unharmed even after death. The puppet didnt answer but punched and shattered the protective golden light around the Kui ox: Try again. Chop! Lu Yang used the Chop Word Technique, causing a superficial cut on the skin. The Chop Word Technique, though not as powerful as the Break Word Technique, had the advantage of a wide coverage area and could be used multiple times. Chop! Chop! Lu Yang executed the Chop Word Technique three times in a row, draining his spiritual power. Just in time, the puppet fed him a Great Restoration Pill. Chop! Chop! Chop! Great Restoration Pill. Thus, after a cycle of Chop-Chop-Chop, Great Restoration Pill C repeated multiple times, he finally managed to cut enough meat for a meal. Just as the ingredients were ready, Lu Yang was so exhausted hey sprawled on the floor, panting heavily, while the puppet continued to feed him Great Restoration Pills. Lu Yang found this scene strangely familiar. It goes without saying, the Great Restoration Pills really did work wonders, revitalizing Lu Yang, who then continued cooking. Use sword energy to mince the tendons, instructed the puppet by his side. As Lu Yang inserted the tip of the Qingfeng sword into the Kui ox meat and released sword energy, he felt like it disappeared without a trace, stirring up no effect. Keep going, youre doing great, the puppet encouraged Lu Yang, albeit in a monotone voice that hardly inspired him. Lu Yang yelled, Could you put some emotion into it? The puppet obligingly changed its tone: Lu Yang, even though your cultivation level is low, and everything you learn seems to go awry, not to mention I cant even lose to you, but youre trying your hardest. Keep it up! Lu Yangs veins bulged with frustration as he increased the output of his sword energy, which finally began to cut through the tendons of the Kui ox meat bit by bit. After the entire process, Lu Yang was too tired to even bother getting angry at the puppet. When it came to roasting the meat, Lu Yang kept gulping down Great Restoration Pills while using the Three-vors True Fire. The aroma of the meat soon wafted out of the kitchen. Whats that delicious smell? Grandpa Ba entered the kitchen, drawn by the aroma, and saw Lu Yang barbecuing. Grandpa Ba, what brings you here? Lu Yang was surprised. With a cheerful smile, Grandpa Ba brought out a can of tea leaves: I just got some Enlightenment Tea and was nning to bring some to Yun Zhi. Then I smelled this aroma and came to see whats cooking. So, youre roasting a Kui ox. With your level of cultivation, it must have taken quite an effort, right? Lu Yang sheepishly chuckled in response. By the way, you were asking about Ninth Junior Brother. Do you know where he is now? Feeling that his master would soon emerge from seclusion, Lu Yang saw no harm in telling Grandpa Ba about his masters secluded cultivation in the pine forest. Grandpa Bas eyes lit up at the news, thinking to himself that troublemakers indeed attract each other. So, the dreaded Ninth Junior Brother had been confined by Yun Zhi. He put down the Enlightenment Tea and left in a hurry: Ive got something to do. Ill be off now. He couldnt wait to share this news with his fellow disciples and have a collective viewing of Ninth Junior Brothers predicament! (TL Note: Kui was, ording to the book ssic of the Mountains and Seas, a beast living on Mt. Liubo in the Eastern Sea. Its skin was used by the Yellow Emperor to make a drum to invoke rain and wind. Kui is therefore seen as identical to the thunder gods, with a human face and the body of a dragon. The Kui is also described as an animal with only one foot, simr to that of a dragon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kui_(Chinese_mythology)) (End of the chapter) Chapter 116: Sharing Difficulties Together Chapter 116: Sharing Difficulties Together Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang was fully focused on barbecuing the Kui ox, apetition of wisdom, perseverance, and luck that didnt allow for the slightest negligence. He didnt notice Grandpa Bas schadenfreude at that moment. The barbecue was finally ready, its fragrance lingering in the kitchen for three days. The Three-vors True Fire, truly a unique creation of Lu Yang, proved to have its merits. There are a total of 108 types of true fire in the world, and with his talent, Lu Yang had added another to the list, making this me extraordinary! If Lu Yang wished, he could open a continent-wide chain of barbecue restaurants or even establish a Barbecue Sect! This was an opportunity many Barbarian Bones could not even dream of! But Lu Yang was indifferent to fame and fortune and had no ns in that direction. Lu Yang ced the roasted Kui ox on a te, apanied by roasted potatoes, carrots, and cauliflower as garnishes, ready to be served. The puppet looked at Lu Yang surprisingly, not expecting him to think soprehensively. Just as Lu Yang was about to leave the kitchen, he noticed arge piece of meat missing from the Kui ox, revealing stark white bones. Lu Yang remembered the Flesh Regeneration Pill he had just exchanged. What if I give the Kui ox a Flesh Regeneration Pill? Would it regrow the meat? Lu Yang thought, seeing a great business opportunity. Without hesitation, Lu Yang forced the pill into the Kui oxs mouth. A miraculous scene unfolded: a faint golden glow emerged from the wound on the Kui oxs corpse. The roasted meat slowly levitated, reverted to its raw state, and drifted to the wound, seamlessly reattaching itself. Lu Yang: Is this even scientific? My hard-earned roasted meat just reverted?! Even the puppet couldnt hold back itsughter, sneaking out a chuckle. Lu Yang had no choice but to start over. Fortunately, with the experience from the first attempt, the second round was much faster. Lu Yang also found his proficiency in the Chop Word Technique, sword energy, and Three-vors True Fire had improved. Could this be what Eldest Senior Sister intended, for him to grow through cooking? Indeed, there is a cultivation path known as Spirit Cooking, where cultivators refine their skills through cooking. Lu Yangs experience bore a striking resemnce to this practice. Eldest Senior Sisters intentions are profound! Lu Yang was deeply moved. Eldest Senior Sister was meditating with her hands in the five-hearted posture in front of the dining table, surrounded by various phenomena like falling stars, revival of all things, and transformation of thunder tribtions as if all the wonders of the world were concentrated here. She noticed Lu Yangs arrival and slowly opened her eyes. The various phenomena instantly retracted into her body as if nothing had happened. Roasted Kui ox? Yun Zhi nced at the carefully prepared dinner by Lu Yang without saying much, indicating for him to join her. Lu Yang sat upright at the dining table, nervously waiting for Eldest Senior Sister to eat first. Yun Zhi sliced a piece, opened her mouth slightly, and tasted it: Not bad. Lu Yangs heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled down. Yun Zhi opened her storage space and handed a bottle of pills to Lu Yang, who saw Digestion Aid Pill inscribed on the bottle. This is a ssic pill from Pellet Cauldron Peak, designed to promote your digestion and absorption of food. The spiritual energy contained in the roasted Kui ox far exceeds your capacity. You should eat slowly, using the pill as an aid to gradually absorb the energy. Reality has proven that Pellet Cauldron Peak was established at the very founding of the Dao Seeking Sect, and has stood steadfast until now, the pills it refines are still sometimes pretty effective. Lu Yang ate a small piece, chewing lightly a few times. The Kui ox meat, like gtin, slid into his stomach. The abundant spiritual energy surged within him, rushing towards his crown, and the fatigue from roasting the Kui ox vanished, leaving him feeling thoroughly refreshed. Lu Yangs eyes lit up, and he immediately took the pill and sat down to meditate, feeling waves of spiritual energy tides within his body. The demon beasts qualified to be in by Yun Zhi naturally possessed extremely high cultivation levels. Yun Zhi elegantly ate the barbecue, chewing slowly, savoring the taste. Now, there were hardly any things left that could enhance her cultivation. The seven elders gathered in the pine forest of Heavens Gate Peak. Except for the Grand Elder and Yun Zhi, all the high-ranking officials of the Dao Seeking Sect were present, including the elusive Sect Master. How could something happen to Ninth Junior Brother just like that? Life is unpredictable; who can foresee the future? The seven elders discussed noisily, while Daoist Non-Speaker, who was meditating, was so angered he wanted to draw his sword for a duel. Dont get angry, dont get angry. I need to meditate quietly for three days and cannot break my meditative state, Daoist Non-Speaker repeatedly warned himself not to get angry. The seven elders took pleasure in the misfortune, as Ninth Junior Brother had always yed tricks on them. Now that they had a chance to mock him, they naturally wouldnt miss it. Such an opportunity might note again in a lifetime! To me, Ninth Junior Brother is just too petty. Having a highly talented disciple is a good thing. How could he get so angry that he had a stroke? Nonsense, how could this be a stroke? This is clearly a vegetative state! Daoist Non-Speaker could no longer hold back and roared, Dont push me too far! Who exactly leaked his situation?! Little Yun? No, I cant defeat her. Then it must be Lu Yang! Ninth Junior Brother, you have a day like this too! Grandpa Baughed gleefully. In his youth, Grandpa Ba was fond of flowers and nts. At that time, Daoist Non-Speaker mentioned a method of cultivating with nts by burying oneself in the soil, leaving only the head exposed to sense the spiritual energy of the earth, which could increase cultivation levels. Grandpa Ba still didnt want to recall his foolish past! A lifelong shame! You dare! Take my sword! Daoist Non-Speaker executed the Four Absolute Sword Formation, attacking everyone. The seven elders immediately assumed defensive postures, but thunder appeared at the entrance of the cave, blocking the sword formations attack. The seven elders breathed a sigh of relief; Yun Zhis defenses were reliable. Haha, Ninth Junior Brother, your swordsmanship has deteriorated. Even a small cave entrance cant be prated. If it were me, I would havee out long ago! Grandpa Baughed unrestrainedly. Daoist Non-Speaker sneered, If youre capable, then blow open the cave entrance. Heh, its just a cave entrance. How hard could it be to blow it open! Grandpa Baunched a massive palm strike at the cave entrance, which was also shattered by the thunder. Unexpected, lets try again! Grandpa Ba, not deterred, attempted again, but his attack was still neutralized by the thunder. Sweat dripped from his forehead, Ive calcted the position of the formations eye, but my attacking methods are limited. I need everyones help! The six other elders dly agreed. All seven elders exerted their force simultaneously, attacking the spot identified by Grandpa Ba. For a moment, lightning shed and thunder roared, and the entire pine forest was enveloped in chaos and radiance, terrifying to behold. The seal of the cave, as if provoked, unleashed a suction force that seemed capable of absorbing everything in the world. Seeing the situation turn dire, the seven elders tried to escape using various methods but were no match for the suction force and got pulled into the cave. The seven elders: Daoist Non-Speaker was deeply moved. Was this the true brotherhood of fellow disciples? To share both good fortune and misfortune together. Yun Zhi, who was eating, paused momentarily. She sensed that the seal she left for her master was disturbed. The people of Dao Seeking Sect had various ingenious ideas, and Yun Zhi worried that someone might forcefully break the seal. Thus, she set up the seal so that if anyone attempted to force it open, they would be sucked into the cave and sealed together with it. Surely there wouldnt be someone like that, right? she murmured to herself, not entirely sure. (End of the chapter) Chapter 117: I Am the Heart Demon Chapter 117: I Am the Heart Demon Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Yun Zhi always felt that the thing she worried about would ur. After all, this is the Dao Seeking Sect, where anything can happen. Lu Yang entered a mysterious state where he felt every acupoint in his body brimming with spiritual energy, his internal cirction merging with the external spiritual energy, exchanging spiritual energy with each inhtion and exhtion. His heart was more peaceful than ever, benefiting from refining the benefits brought by the Kui ox, feeling his body steadily bing stronger. Its best to see how things go. Yun Zhi nced at Lu Yang, who was cultivating, and didnt disturb him. She went alone to the pine forest, leaving the puppet to protect Lu Yang. It was deep into the night at Heavens Gate Peak, with only Yun Zhi and Lu Yang there, making it exceptionally quiet. Yun Zhi walked among the mountains like a fairy treading on clouds. Then Yun Zhi saw her noisy master and the elders trapped inside the cave. Their voices could be heard from a distance. Yun Zhi sighed, knowing that what was meant to happen, would always happen. She entered the cave, contemting whether to release them. Inside the cave, the high-ranking officials of the Dao Seeking Sect gathered. I knew my Senior Brothers and Senior Sister are kind-hearted people, unwilling to see me here alone, speciallying in to apany me, Daoist Non-Speaker was grateful, but the upward curl of his lips couldnt be hidden. Especially Second Senior Brother, who appears to be breaking the formation on the surface but actually came because he saw my loneliness, bringing everyone to apany me! Grandpa Ba immediately felt the malicious stares of his junior brothers and sisters, feeling immense pressure. He tried to stay calm and said, Everyone, dont panic. This is just a seal set by Junior Niece Yun Zhi, not her in person. As long as we all work together, we can surely ovee this difficulty and break the seal! Think of the Dao Seeking Sects Nine, think of how you hold high positions now. What difficulty can stump us? In their youth, they roamed the world, ying demons and eliminating evil, leaving a formidable name across the Central Continent. The Dao Seeking Sects Nine was what people called them at that time. In the cramped cave, the Dao Seeking Sects Nine united once again. Second Senior Brother, how exactly can we leave this ce? Grandpa Ba red at Daoist Non-Speaker menacingly. He came to watch the fun but ended up being part of it. Daoist Non-Speaker chuckled, how could he easily let everyone leave after they hade to apany him? He said seriously, Im not ashamed to say that Little Yuns cultivation has long surpassed mine. The purpose of her setting this seal is to motivate me to cultivate diligently and break through my limits. So, to break the seal, we must surpass our limits and exceed ourselves! Everyone realized the seriousness of the situation. Surpassing oneself sounds easy but is incredibly difficult to achieve. Daoist Non-Speaker had already thought about the development of events: everyone would try to break the seal one by one, and after being repelled, they would likely be disheartened. At that moment, he would im he had an epiphany and needed to meditate for three days. After three days, he would pretend his aura had surged and perform a spectacr sword technique to strike the cave entrance, just as the seal was naturally released. His Senior Brothers and Senior Sister would then marvel at his insight. A perfect n! Since thats the case, as your Second Senior Brother, I must take the lead and attempt first! With the Grand Elder absent, Grandpa Ba was the eldest, and he wanted to set an example. The others watched Grandpa Ba with anticipation, but he felt he probably couldnt break the seal and it would be embarrassing, so he turned and said, Step back, I have a unique technique that I prefer not to perform in front of others. Everyone obediently retreated to the deeper part of the cave, where they couldnt see the entrance. Seeing everyone back away, Grandpa Ba took a deep breath and flicked a few seeds from his sleeve. Apanied by his murmured incantations, the seeds instantly turned into robust vines that struck the cave entrance, glowing faintly as thunder erupted, shaking the heavens and the earth. These were the rare Purple Thunder Vines, said to be born from bathing in heavenly tribtion, carrying the mark of heaven and earth from birth, possessing a fraction of the tribtions power. After a bombardment, the cave entrance remained unchanged, the seal untouched. Hmm? Through the smoke, Grandpa Ba saw a figure, furrowing his brows. As the smoke cleared, Yun Zhis figure was revealed. With his vast experience, Grandpa Ba immediately understood what was happening. This must be his own heart demon. Hadnt Ninth Junior Brother said it? To break the seal, one must surpass oneself, and to do that, one surely must defeat their heart demon. I thought I had let go, believing it was good for the younger generation to be stronger than the old. It seems I havent truly let go! Grandpa Ba was filled with fighting spirit. With this thought, Grandpa Ba didnt hesitate any longer and attacked Yun Zhi with all his might. Yun Zhi had intended to check on the elders to see what they were doing and consider whether to let them out, only to be met with Grandpa Bas barrage upon reaching the entrance. Yun Zhi had no choice but to counterattack, extending her delicate hand, her bracelet jingling. With a palm strike, she sent Grandpa Ba flying. Grandpa Ba was caught by Third Elder and the others after flying a great distance. Second Senior Brother, what happened to you? Grandpa Ba coughed twice, his eyes showing a hint of fear. He shakily pointed towards the cave entrance and said, Be careful, Ninth Junior Brother didnt lie to us. Junior Niece Yun Zhi has set a heart demon seal. To break the seal, we must resolve the heart demon! Daoist Non-Speaker murmured to himself, confused about this heart demon. Third Elder, never one to use his brain much and naturally believing whatever Grandpa Ba said, also tried and encountered Yun Zhi. When Yun Zhi defeated five Sect Masters at the Immortal Sect Conference, she became a heart demon for the older generation, making them question what they had cultivated for thousands of years. Third Elder was no exception. Like Grandpa Ba, upon seeing Yun Zhi, Third Elder prepared for battle and, simrly, was sent flying with a palm strike. Such a formidable heart demon! Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder up to Eighth Elder, one by one, the elders tried and were all defeated by Yun Zhi. Daoist Non-Speaker, puzzled, approached the cave entrance and, seeing Yun Zhi, finally understood. This wasnt some heart demon; it was clearly Little Yun herself guarding the door! Little Yun? Daoist Non-Speaker tentatively called out. Yun Zhi emotionlessly responded, I am the heart demon. After speaking, she didnt give her master a chance to react, striking him and turning to leave the cave. Treating herself as a heart demon and attacking on sight, and he still wants toe out? Just meditate quietly for three days. Lu Yang slowly opened his eyes, feeling a warm current in his body, now only a step away from a breakthrough. By then, Yun Zhi had already returned to her seat. Lu Yang, seeing Yun Zhi sitting across from him, couldnt tell if it was his imagination, but he felt that Eldest Senior Sister seemed somewhat pleased. Eldest Senior Sister, is there something that made you happy? No, Yun Zhi responded as coldly as ever. (End of the chapter) Chapter 118: Awakening of the Undying Maiden Chapter 118: Awakening of the Undying Maiden Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Did Dai Bufan give you some contribution points for your undercover mission? Yun Zhi asked after dinner. Yes, quite a lot. Lu Yang was thrilled, as he had the most contribution points among his peers. In three days, the sect will hold a market. Most people will participate. If youre interested, you can take a look around. You might find something you like. Lu Yang nodded. He had heard that the sects internal item exchange was organized in the form of a market. Previously, Yun Zhi wanted Lu Yang to focus on his cultivation and didnt allow him to participate in such markets. Now that Lu Yang had achieved foundation building and made some progress in his cultivation, he didnt need to be overly managed. Dao Seeking Sect holds a market every three months, where items can be exchanged, and contribution points can be used to buy various things for entertainment. Disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect, while executing tasks in various ces, oftene across local specialties and novel items. Some choose to use them themselves, while others bring them to the market to exchange for items they need. Also, the master is in deep meditation. Dont go to see him these days, Yun Zhi advised. Lu Yang was puzzled, as he hadnt nned to visit the master anyway, knowing that the master would definitelye out after three days. Oh. Regardless, following Eldest Senior Sisters advice was certainly not wrong. Three dayster, the market was held as scheduled. The Dao Seeking Sect set up a tform for disciples to freelypete in spells. The tform, made from special materials, was indestructible and wrapped in formations to ensure that the fightings residual effects didnt affect the spectators. At this moment, two Golden Core stage brothers were fighting on the tform, their Golden Cores full and wless, naturally formed, and clearly top-notch Golden Cores that were highly sought after outside. Shattered Moon sh! One of the Golden Core stage brothers shouted, his broadsword shing down like a half-moon with brute force, causing Lu Yang to wince. If Helmsman Chu had the strength of this brother back then, they would likely have been in big trouble. The other Golden Core stage brother, not to be outdone, emitted golden light all over his body, forming a thin golden film outside his body: Buddhas Golden Body! The other brother had somehow learned the Buddhas Golden Body, and it had already reached a minor aplishment, staunchly withstanding the sh. The techniques and spells used by the two were masterful and seamlessly executed. Lu Yang watched intently, rarely having the opportunity to see top Golden Core stage powerhouses battle. In fact, Lu Yang had seen higher-level battles, between great cultivators and immortals. Unfortunately, Eldest Senior Sisters palm strikes were too fierce, and the newly awakened Undying Maiden had no chance to fight back, amounting to a one-sided battle, from which Lu Yang learned nothing. The Undying Maiden is unreliable. Lu Yang sighed. If he could learn even a trick or two from Eldest Senior Sister, wouldnt he be unbeatable among his peers? Wait, Eldest Senior Sister did teach me the art of Shrinking the Earth into Inches and the Samadhi True Fire. Boy, Id advise you to watch your words! What do you mean by Im unreliable? A womans voice rang out in Lu Yangs heart. Senior, youre awake? Lu Yang was surprised. The Undying Maiden had been asleep for several days and was finally awake? Calling me senior does sound pleasant. The Undying Maidenzily said, and Lu Yang felt like she was stretching. Let me tell you, Im far from my prime right now and need time to recover. That Yun Zhi can only beat me now. Once I regain my strength, she wont be able to win against me even with one hand tied behind her back. The Undying Maiden spoke fiercely. She was a figure who dominated the ancient times; how could she not defeat a junior? Lu Yang thought it over and felt the Undying Maidens words made sense: Ill convey this to Eldest Senior Sister exactly. No, no, no, lets talk it over. Theres no need for that. The Undying Maidens tone softened instantly. Lu Yang: Senior, can I really rely on you? Logically, having the soul of an ancient immortal within oneself should mean bing invincible against gods and Buddhas, with fortunes rolling in, leveling up as easily as drinking water, unbeatable among peers, and capable of defeating those of higher levels without any difficulty. However, the Undying Maidens performance always seemed unreliable, not as dependable as sticking closely to Eldest Senior Sister. Heh. Who do you think I am? I am the Undying Maiden, Yellow Bean! Didnt you previously im to be this seat? Lu Yang remembered the once domineering Undying Maiden. The Undying Maiden paused for a moment before replying: This seat is the Undying Maiden, Yellow Bean no, calling myself this seat feels too awkward. The Undying Maiden exined, Its mainly because I heard others say that referring to oneself as this seat seems very powerful. I just woke up then, wasnt quite clear-headed, and wanted to try it out. Now, I feel its too unfamiliar, so Ill just refer to myself as I. Lu Yang was curious, Heard from whom? From those Crossing Tribtion Stage, immortals. After cultivating to the highest realm, everyone prefers not to fight if possible. But how can you know who is stronger without fighting? So, someone started it, speaking arrogantly, which was very intimidating. Then everyone thought this way of speaking was good, saying things like this seat is born in ordance with heaven, those who defy this immortal shall be in, how dare mere mortals defy immortals, this seat contains immense power within, do not force this seat to break the seal, and so on. Im trying to remember who started it oh right, it was Ying Tian Immortal! I thought their way of speaking was interesting at the time, so I wrote down what they said andpiled a booklet called Immortals Quotations. I dont know where that book has ended up now. Lu Yang: He felt he had discovered the reason why the Undying Maiden was stabbed in the back by others. Ill show you some real immortal power, so you dont think Ive just bluffed my way up. The Undying Maiden believed it was necessary to demonstrate some real power to make Lu Yang respect her more. Here, give me control of your body, and let you experience what its like to fight above your level. This was Dao Seeking Sects territory, so Lu Yang wasnt worried about the Undying Maiden taking the opportunity to seize his body. He voluntarily relinquished control of his body. At this moment, the tform was empty. The Undying Maiden, controlling Lu Yangs body, stepped onto the tform and bowed, Fellow vigers and heroes, I have had some insights in my cultivation today. Would any Golden Core early-stage Senior Brother or Sister like to exchange some pointers? The Undying Maiden exined to Lu Yang, The ancient prodigies were just like now, challenging everyone, fighting their way to fame andying the foundation for their invincibility. Today, Ill demonstrate it for you. Learn well! Ille! A bald brother jumped onto the stage, his body radiating meritorious golden light. The Undying Maiden gasped, a top-quality Golden Core, blessed with merits, body inhabited by an Arhat, and the Vast Golden Body nearingpletion. How could she fight with her head? Lets, uh, switch. The bald brother wasnt upset and jumped off the stage cheerfully, and another Confucian brother jumped on. The Confucian brother wore a gray robe, holding a bamboo book, with a calm and collected smile. The Undying Maiden froze again, a natural-born Confucian cultivator, blessed by the powerful, mouth speaking the heavenlyws, holding a treasure. How could she fight this? Lets switch again! The Undying Maiden said through gritted teeth. Ille. The Confucian brother stepped down, and a straightforward chubby brother took the stage. The Undying Maiden could tell at a nce that the chubby brothers Golden Core was of the highest quality, blessed by fortune, protected by bloodline, and his cultivation technique was top-notch without any ws. The Undying Maiden then realized she couldnt defeat any of the Golden Core stage cultivators present. (End of the chapter) Chapter 119: Let Me Show You the Insight of an Immortal! Chapter 119: Let Me Show You the Insight of an Immortal! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The Undying Maiden had great ns. Lu Yang, personally cultivated by the Eldest Senior Sister, was already a prodigy of a caliber rarely seen even in ancient times. Surpassing levels inbat shouldnt be a difficult task for him, and this was a perfect opportunity for her to make a name for herself on the tform. However, she realized that although Lu Yang could indeed fight above his level in ancient times, it didnt mean he could do the same in the Dao Seeking Sect. What the Undying Maiden didnt know was that, as one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, the Dao Seeking Sect was unparalleled in its ingenious techniques and unfathomable ideas, more than in any other aspect. The Dao Seeking Sect has stood unshaken for 120,000 years, relying not just on luck but more so on strength. By the time of the Dao Seeking Sects Nine, each of the Nine had their own methods, elevating the Sects strength even further. For example, the Seventh Elder, in charge of the Pellet Cauldron Peak,id a solid foundation for the subsequent disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect to build their foundation with his hundred attempts at foundation building during his youth. Lu Yang benefited from this as well. The Seventh Elder proposed an idea during his peak foundation building stage, questioning why a person could only have one Golden Core. Why not two or three? He began to theorize what dual and triple Golden Cores would look like. Dual Golden Cores were manageable, with two cores attracting and rotating around each other in a systematic manner. However, when it came to triple Golden Cores, the Seventh Elder started to struggle. The trajectory of the triple Golden Cores rotation was like a chaotic fog, without any discernible pattern. With relentless determination, the Seventh Elder listed eighteen Heavenly Origin configurations and used his masters divine consciousness to calcte the oue, solving the problem. However, theputational requirements for the rotation of triple Golden Cores were too immense, beyond what a Golden Core stage cultivator could withstand. Thus, the idea of triple Golden Cores eventually faded away. (TL Note: I dont know if the author is referencing this, but there is a problem about solving the subsequent motion for three point masses ording to Newtonsws of motion and Newtonsw of universal gravitation, dubbed the Three-Body Problem and there is a famous science fiction novel written about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three-Body_Problem_(novel) Its actually really good. Ive read the entire series. Theres also a drama on youtube but I prefer the nove) Although unsessful, the new algorithms created during the process greatly helped the Seventh Elder. After generations of research by the Dao Seeking Sect, their understanding of the Core Formation process is incredibly profound. With a good foundation and following the process, forming a top-quality Golden Core is not difficult. Any disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect, when ced in the outside world, would be considered a prodigy. Its not to say they are unbeatable among their peers, but defeating ny-nine percent of them wouldnt be a problem. In the spiritual space, Lu Yang silently watched the Undying Maiden. I understand all that, but why is it the Undying Maiden who is useless, yet Im the one embarrassed? The Undying Maidens debut was less than sessful. Give me back control of my body! Lu Yang regretted letting the Undying Maiden control his body. The Undying Maiden lectured Lu Yang, the junior, Young one, cultivation isnt just about fighting. Can strength represent everything? Of course not. Cultivation means insight, testing ones eye for quality. There are many good items in this Dao Seeking Sect market. Let me show you what the insight of an ancient immortal looks like! Lu Yang chose to trust her once more. Take a look, everyone! A rare Liuli Qinghua vase obtained from ancient ruins, a rare treasure indeed. The Coiling Dragon Jade Pillow, which allows you to cultivate in your dreams, a specialty of the South, absolutely a fantastic item! Lesser Restoration Pills, ten contribution points each, buy three get one free! The more you buy, the more you get, and if you buy a hundred, you get the pill recipe for free! Renting myself out, renting myself out. Golden Core stage cultivator, can apany you on tasks, hardworking, a hundred and twenty contribution points a day! The Dao Seeking Sects market had everything from treasures of mystic realms to renting oneself out, covering a wide range of offerings. The Undying Maiden, controlling Lu Yangs body, squatted down. As she did, she instinctively gathered her clothes behind her, then realized Lu Yang wasnt wearing a skirt. Lu Yang secretly mocked the situation, wondering why, as a man, he would wear a skirt? How much for this Liuli Qinghua vase? The Undying Maiden took an interest in a vase, which contained a withered flower of indiscernible species, its time of death unknown. Eight hundred and eighty-eight contribution points. That expensive?! Dont act so surprised, junior brother. This Liuli Qinghua vase was found in the mystic realm of a Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator. Look at its exquisite craftsmanship and sturdy material. Its worth the price. The senior brother took the vase and threw it onto the ground to demonstrate its durability; indeed, the vase remained unscathed. Besides being sturdy, does it have any other advantages, or is being durable the only merit of a treasure? The senior brother felt awkward, as he had possessed the vase for a long time without discovering its true use. Its only selling point had been its durability. One hundred contribution points, Ill buy it to use as a decoration. Youre cutting the price too drastically, junior brother. Seven hundred, I cant go any lower. The Undying Maiden turned to leave. Dont rush off. Four hundred, thats the lowest I can go! Two hundred. The senior brother gritted his teeth. The vase had been up for sale for a long time with no buyers. Today, there was finally someone interested, and he couldnt miss this opportunity. Deal! The Undying Maiden boasted to Lu Yang, See? This is my insight! Lu Yang was curious, Does this vase hide any secrets? The Undying Maiden shook her head mysteriously, The vase really only has its durability as a feature, but the secret isnt in the vase; its in this withered flower! This flower contains a cultivation technique, which Ill decipher for you! The Undying Maiden moved to a corner of the market, muttering what seemed to be an ancient scripture. As the sonorous chanting filled the air, the withered flower miraculously revived, blooming partially until fully blossoming. Characters began to float out of the flower as it openedpletely. The Undying Maiden looked unsurprised, confidently tranting, and quickly produced the results. This is a cultivation technique that can take you to the Void Refinement Stage, called Liuli Bone Transformation. The technique is divided into three stages: Untransformed Bone, Diamond Bone, and the fully cultivated Liuli Bone. This is only a fragment, containing the Untransformed Bone stage, which covers from the Qi Refinement to the Golden Core stage. If theres a chance to enter an ancient ruin, perhaps thetter half of the technique can be found! The Undying Maiden was triumphant. A fragment of a Void Refinement Stage technique, which in ancient times could lead to the downfall of small to medium tribes, was highly sought after. Lu Yang was silent for a moment, then recited a passage. The Undying Maiden was astonished; this was the ending of the Liuli Bone Transformation fragment. I havent tranted it for you yet. How do you know this? Can you understand the characters meaning? Lu Yang sighed and exined, The Dao Seeking Sect has already obtained theplete technique from an ancient ruin. I studied this technique as a reference and have read through it. Eldest Senior Sister even corrected several ws in the technique, extended it, and deduced that beyond Liuli Bone is the Indestructible Bone. Now, the Liuli Bone Transformation can be cultivated to the peak of the Unity Stage. If youre interested, I can take you to see it. Its on the first floor of the scripture library. Its free, and you can look as much as you like. The Undying Maiden: Why would the Dao Seeking Sect ce such a precious technique on the first floor of the scripture library? Lu Yang had his own question; he wanted to know if he could get a refund for the two hundred contribution points. (End of the chapter) Chapter 120: Ancient Oddities Chapter 120: Ancient Oddities Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii To be fair, the Undying Maidens insight was indeed remarkable. This time was just an exception. Had it been other treasures, it could well have been considered a fortunate encounter. However, the Undying Maiden didnt see it that way. To her, this was a humiliation. As an immortal, she had capsized in front of a junior not once, but twice. Does Undying Maiden Yellow Bean have no dignity?! Immortal, if you have nothing else, you might as well go back to sleep, Lu Yang suggested. Kid, dont think thats all the ability I have! The Undying Maiden refused to admit defeat, eager to prove her worth. In ancient times, I was a top-notch powerhouse, with countless treasures collected throughout my life. For example, I buried a vast amount of treasures under the North Star, including immortal treasures. I still remember the exact location. If you can find them, establishing a sect and living in luxury would be effortless for you! But wasnt the North Star refined by an anonymous ancient being along with the myriad of stars? How am I supposed to find the North Star? The Undying Maiden fell silent for a moment, then continued, I can also guide your cultivation, making your progress twice as fast as your peers, with a solid foundation and wless advancement! Thanks, but Eldest Senior Sister can guide me. That little girl has more extensive knowledge and experience than me? My guidance is surely moreprehensive. How could she cover every aspect? There are holes everywhere. Take your foundation building, for example, its actually quite perfect. The Undying Maiden admitted, with her critical eye, Lu Yangs foundation building was indeed perfect; she couldnt find a single fault. And, as a woman, Im more thoughtful. I can help you win over the girl you like! Lu Yang could tell the Undying Maiden was out of tricks and directly dismissed her immortal status. No need, Eldest Senior Sister told me that its best to keep ones yang energy abundant for cultivation. Shallow! The Undying Maiden scoffed at Eldest Senior Sisters views, Havent you heard of men in ancient times who consorted with women nightly, with hundreds in their harems? They cultivated the Dual Cultivation technique, advancing their cultivation rapidly! Do you want such techniques? I have a few here that would suit you. Lu Yang calmly asked, First, tell me what happened to that man with the harem in the end. He was attacked and dismembered by the women of his harem but thats not the point. The important thing is how quickly his cultivation grew! And how quickly he lost his life. Ive also encountered many spells and can teach you how to counter them, like the great divine power Word Bes Reality, where anything saides true, representing the ultimate in causality magic! When I was at the Tribtion Crossing Stage, I faced an enemy with the Word Bes Reality ability, a formidable adversary indeed. It was terrifying, like a child of heaven and earth, making anything he said happen, saying he was omnipotent wasnt an exaggeration. Strong as he was, he ultimately couldnt defeat me! Lu Yang was astonished. Word Bes Reality sounded incredibly difficult to deal with, yet the Undying Maiden was able to ovee such an opponent, truly fearsome. Thinking about it, although the Undying Maiden seemed unreliable, ancient times were chaotic, with prodigies vying for supremacy and powerhouses dueling to the death. In the end, only five became immortals, and the Undying Maidens ultimate victory showed her exceptional talent. How did you defeat him? At that time, I ambushed him. He probably used Word Bes Reality to protect himself too well, never having been hit before. He shouted It hurts so much, Im dying, and then he died. Lu Yang: What kind of trash is this? Unfortunately, with that mans death, the lineage of Word Bes Reality was lost. Seeing Lu Yang shocked, the Undying Maiden felt more confident, Apart from countering spells, I can also teach you magic. Have you heard of the great divine power Shrinking Earth into Inches? Its a rare spatial spell that, in ancient times, Golden Core stage cultivators could barely learn. But under my guidance, you can learn it now. Shrinking Earth into Inches? Lu Yang was secretly delighted; the Eldest Senior Sister had skipped over too much in her teachings, but with an immortal teaching him now, there shouldnt be any problem. Seeing Lu Yang interested in this divine power, the Undying Maiden patiently taught him, exining every step of the spell in detail. Lu Yang took out a notebook, nodding and taking notes like a diligent student. After a while, the Undying Maiden looked dispirited, watching Lu Yang burrow in and out of the ground, shrinking and extending distances, and started to doubt her own teaching abilities. What scene has the Undying Maiden not seen? This was certainly a new one. The good news was that Lu Yangs mastery of both shrinking and extending distances was improving; he could now shrink distances to just an inch, and his casting speed had significantly increased. I can teach more than just this one spatial spell! The Undying Maiden was eager to disy the repertoire of spells that an immortal should possess. What is it? Alongside Shrinking Earth into Inches, theres the Miles in a Step! With Miles in a Step, no distance is too far, and stepping out means reaching your destination! Miles in a Step is a more challenging spell to master than Shrinking Earth into Inches. Initially, the Undying Maiden was worried Lu Yang wouldnt learn it and lose confidence, so she hadnt nned to teach it. Now, she was just worried Lu Yang might learn it incorrectly. Miles in a Step requires a high understanding of space. Without studying other spatial spells as a foundation, its hard to learn this spell. Are you confident? Lu Yang thought about it; he had learned the Cleaning Spell, which summoned clean clothes, a typical spatial spell. So, Lu Yang nodded, and the Undying Maiden began teaching. To learn Miles in a Step, the process is basically the same as Shrinking Earth into Inches. First, you must memorize the incantation. Listen carefully The Undying Maiden recited aplex and difficult ancient chant, hard to memorize. But at this point, Lu Yang had already developed a spiritual space, and with a powerful divine consciousness, he memorized the ancient words in no time. The Undying Maiden could tell that Lu Yang was very talented in learning spells. Next, you need to have a map in your mind. Imagine yourself at one location on the map, thinking about it while reciting the ancient incantation. When your spirit, energy, and soul are perfectly unified, you can transport yourself to the destination with a single thought. The Undying Maiden cautioned, However, you must be aware that the distance of teleportation is rted to your cultivation level. For your first attempt, its not wise to choose a too distant location. Following the Undying Maidens guidance, Lu Yang cautiously tried, simultaneously chanting the ancient incantation and imagining Heavens Gate Peak, then shouted, Miles in a Step! Nothing happened. The Undying Maiden continued, Step forward, the essence of Miles in a Step is that the destination is only a step away, so you need to take that step! Only by stepping forward could he know if it was sessful. Lu Yang took a step, and the scenery under his feet changed. Both he and the Undying Maiden were momentarily pleased with the sess. Thats not right, look at your feet! the Undying Maiden shouted. Lu Yang looked down, breaking into a cold sweat; beneath him was an abyss, bottomless! He turned to look behind him and found that he was standing at the edge of a cliff. So, was the purpose of Miles in a Step to put oneself at the edge of the world? Lu Yang had no interest in critiquing; he was in mid-air, literally hanging in suspense. He kicked his legs twice in the air, then fell into the abyss. (End of the chapter) Chapter 121: The Tomb Chapter 121: The Tomb Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Miles in a Step, a widely circted but unlearnable spatial magic that nearly touches the essence of spatial magic itself, is unattainable without significant enlightenment and opportunity. Once mastered, one can wander freely, traveling anywhere in the vast world at will. So the ce you thought of just now was at the edge of a cliff, quite a unique location, Undying Maiden marveled, finding the youth she possessed to be truly remarkable for learning such a difficult spell in an instant. Unique my foot, I was thinking of Heavens Gate Peak, what kind of ce is this! Lu Yang eximed, as anyone would be unsettled suddenly appearing in the air above a cliff. Most importantly, he was falling! If he were tond solidly on the ground, bing a mushy pile of flesh would be the best oue. Hearing this, Undying Maidens expression changed drastically, fearing that if Lu Yang were to suffer an ident, that little girl might scatter her soul to the winds! Hurry, hurry, let me take control of your body, Ill save you! In such a critical moment, Lu Yang could not ce his hopes on the unreliable Undying Maiden. As he fell faster and faster, he had to find a way tond safely. Lu Yang took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. With nothing but darkness beneath his feet and unable to see anything, he didnt have to worry about a fear of heights. Miles in a Step! Lu Yang hoped his newly learned spell would transport him back, which would be the best oue. The falling Lu Yang vanished in an instant, reappearing in the air above the cliff. Lu Yang: It seems he couldnt go back for now, but no matter, he had a second n. Shrinking into Inches! Lu Yang only managed to shrink his body, while his clothes remained their original size. He tried to grab the corners of his clothes, forming a makeshift parachute, which finally slowed his descent. Phew Lu Yang breathed a sigh of relief. With steep cliffs on both sides, Lu Yang drifted uneasily in the middle, feeling apprehensive about what awaited him. Look, theres a protrusion on that cliff, like a tform. You cannd there! Undying Maiden called out. Where, I dont see it? Lu Yang frowned. On the left, just on the left, your spiritual sense doesnt extend as far as mine, I saw it before you! Following Undying Maidens directions, Lu Yang indeednded on a tform. Feeling solid ground under his feet, Lu Yang finally rxed, having been terrified just moments before. Was what you just used really Miles in a Step? Undying Maiden looked at Lu Yang skeptically. She had used it many times without ever encountering a simr situation. Supposedly yeah. Lu Yang wasnt entirely sure, now somewhat aware of his talent for magic, knowing not all me could be ced on his Eldest Senior Sister. He also had a part to y. At least its a proper spatial magic, one that transports oneself. Lu Yangforted himself. Moreover, Lu Yangs practice of Miles in a Step had an advantage. Monks practicing spatial magic fear encountering enemies with the same skill, as they could predict your teleportation destination and relentlessly pursue you, making them extremely troublesome. Lu Yang didnt have to worry about this, since even he didnt know where he would end up transporting himself. Speaking of which, where are we? Lu Yang looked up at the sky, with steep cliffs around, he could only see a sliver of blue sky, unable to determine their location. He also didnt know how far they were from the Dao Seeking Sect, or even if they were still in the Central Continent. No matter where we are, theres no fear. Undying Maiden encouraged Lu Yang, With me, a fairy, to protect and guide you, nothing can go wrong! Lu Yang felt it was better to rely on himself than on this immortal, at least he knew his own capabilities, which this immortal did not. Lets take a look inside; this seems to be a cave dwelling, Undying Maiden suggested. Alright. As soon as Lu Yang entered the cave dwelling, he heard a bang from behind him as two stone doors closed. Lu Yang gritted his teeth and exerted all his strength, but he couldnt budge the doors, which were made of some unknown material. Undying Maidens expression became serious: Dont waste your effort. This door was refined by a powerful being and cannot be moved by someone at the Foundation Building stage. As the stone doors closed, the originally dark cave dwelling became so ck that nothing could be seen. Just as Lu Yang was about to use the Three-vor True Fire to light up the surroundings, a faint glow suddenly lit up on both sides. Night pearls? The long corridor of the cave dwelling was lined with luminous stones. Lu Yang felt he had heard about this method of arranging night pearls before. Where had he heard it? We can only go deeper now. In the empty corridor, only Lu Yangs footsteps echoed, making it feel gloomy and eerie. At the end of the corridor, stood two rows of majestic terracotta warriors, holding various magical instruments as if guarding something. The warriors surrounded a stone tablet inscribed with Eternal Rest for the Deceased. Lu Yang finally recognized where the familiar feeling came from; this was a tomb! Eternal Rest for the Deceased is amon inscription found in human tombs. Lu Yang was creeped out, having never expected to walk into a tomb. This is a tomb?! Undying Maiden tried to sound calm, but Lu Yang still detected a tremble and unease in her voice. It appears so. Lu Yang nodded solemnly, feeling as though he had gotten involved in something significant. Gulp. Undying Maiden swallowed nervously. Seeing this, Lu Yang had a somewhat amusing thought: Fairy, youre not afraid of ghosts, are you? Who, who would be afraid of such things? I am a noble fairy, Undying Maidens voice trembled. But you are shaking. Its cold. Do you still remember your title? Undying Maiden. With a title like that, in the world of tomb raiding, you would be considered a zombie ancestor or some other significant figure. What is there for you to fear? Remembering the fairy who had vowed to protect and guide him, Lu Yang felt that not believing in the fairys empty promises was the right decision. We dont need to be afraid; I happen to have a book about tombs here. Lu Yang took out a book titled Tomb Raiding Insights from his identity jade card, a thank-you gift from the Shang family patriarch, Shang Zhongtian, after ying a painted skin ghost. I didnt expect it woulde in handy here. Oh, you have such a treasure. Undying Maidens eyes lit up. The fear of tombs and ghosts naturally stems from the unknown. With this book, their fear would be greatly reduced. Lets see what it says, does it mention what type of tomb this is? the fairy urged. Lu Yang hadnt looked at the book since he received it, but it wasnt toote to start now. He opened the first page and read aloud: ording to Article 532 of The Great Xia Penal Code, any mortal or Qi Cultivation stage cultivator who excavates tombs of historical, artistic, or cultivation value shall be sentenced to imprisonment of no less than three years but no more than ten years, in addition to a fine; for those with lesser offenses, imprisonment of no more than three years and a fine. For Foundation Building stage cultivatorsmitting this crime, the sentencing shall be doubledpared to Qi Cultivation stage cultivators. Lu Yang felt this book wasnt very reliable. (End of the chapter) Chapter 122: Appraisal Magic Tools Chapter 122: Appraisal Magic Tools Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii What is this? Evesting Fairy looked puzzled, unfamiliar with the concept of penalws. In ancient times, society was organized around n bloodlines in the form of tribes, and punishments within the n relied on familyws or nws. Alternatively, gatherings in the form of sects disciplined their disciples with sect rules. The concept of a nation did not exist then, so naturally, there was no discussion of legal codes. However, Evesting Fairy was not a rigid thinker; from the content of the regtions, she could roughly guess the purpose of penalws. I understand the principle, but why does the first page of a tomb raiding guide discuss penalws? Lu Yang coughed twice, indicating he had everything under control. Do not be rmed, fairy. Books in our era are all like this, implying know the penalty beforemitting the crime, so you are mentally prepared. Evesting Fairy looked at Lu Yang skeptically but responded with an Oh. The second page contained the table of contents, which was more serious, outlining topics such as types of zombies, coffin specifications, tomb chamber specifications,mon traps, and more. Shang Zhongtian, a notorious tomb raider, indeed wrote valuable content, exactly what Lu Yang needed. Let me check these terracotta warriors here, found it. Terracotta warriors, made of y and wood, are full-body sculptures of soldiers typically arranged in rows as burial objects. If you encounter terracotta warriors at the entrance of a tomb, you should run away quickly, as the warriors mighte to life! Lu Yang stiffly looked up at the towering terracotta warriors, their eyes glowing green as they reached out theirrge hands towards Lu Yang. I knew it wouldnt be good! Fortunately, Lu Yang was agile, thanks to his experience working in the barbecue restaurant, narrowly avoiding the attack of the terracotta warriors. As more warriors came to life, Lu Yang attempted to retreat but found the way blocked. He had no choice but to flee forward, deeper into the cave. Looking back, Lu Yang saw the terracotta warriors green-glowing eyes fixed on him, but they did not attack, indicating their range of movement was limited. Deeper into the cave, the narrow corridor opened up into a vast space, dimly lit, with only vague outlines visible. Drip-dongdrip-dongdrip-dong The sound of water droplets falling echoed intermittently, especially piercing in the vast space. Evesting Fairy, tense and curled up, prayed that Lu Yang could ovee the obstacles and find an exit. In the vast tomb, only the sound of dripping water and Lu Yangs heartbeat filled the air, causing ones hair to stand on end. Lu Yang was also frightened and decisively closed his pores so his hair wouldnt stand on end. He looked down at the book, hastily cramming knowledge about tombs: Zombies, amon monster encountered in tomb raiding, can be categorized into purple zombies, white zombies, green zombies, hairy zombies, flying zombies, roaming corpses, lying corpses, and drought fiends, with purple zombies corresponding to the Qi Cultivation stage, white zombies to the Foundation Building stage, green zombies to the Golden Core stage and so on. Zombies are inherently yin creatures, fearing only the most yang and firm true fire. As Lu Yang read with interest, a handnded on his shoulder, which he casually brushed off: Fairy, arent you scared? How can you be in the mood for jokes? Evesting Fairy whispered as if she had startled someone: Im in your spiritual world, how could I tap your shoulder? Only then did Lu Yang realize, and he swiftly turned around to see a group of zombies with purple skin following him, the one who had tapped his shoulder being a white-haired zombie! Purple and white zombies! Recalling the words from the tomb raiding guide, Lu Yang finally unleashed the Three-vor True Fire, scorching the zombies. As expected, the zombies were terrified of true fire and dared not advance further in front of a wall of mes. This is true fire, you can actually use true fire?! Evesting Fairy eximed in surprise, having never heard of a Foundation Building stage cultivator mastering true fire. And the mes look like Samadhi True Fire! Lu Yang once again shattered Evesting Fairys understanding. Samadhi True Fire is well-known among the 108 types of true fire. Its terrifying enough for a Golden Core stage cultivator to master it, let alone someone at the Foundation Building stage. Lu Yang remained silent but offered a mysterious smile, which made him appear more impressive. Impressing an ancient fairy with ones talent was quite satisfying. Otherwise, admitting, This is the authentic Three-vors True Fire, would give everything away. After all, its all true fire, close enough. Lu Yang exhaled another breath of Three-vors True Fire, the fireball hovering over his shoulder, illuminating the surroundings and deterring any hidden zombies. Finding the exit of a tomb chamber is a technical task, requiring the holding of an Eight Trigrams disc, the making of motionless seals with the hands, and chanting Seeking dragons, dividing gold, watching theyered mountains; eachyer is a barrier to find the exit. Lu Yang pondered; he neither had an Eight Trigrams disc nor knew the motionless seals. He took out a small stick from his identity jade card and stood it on the ground: Eldest Senior Sister bless, Eldest Senior Sister bless. The stick fell towards the northeast. Lu Yang was cautious by nature, ustomed to checking his work when solving math problems in his previous life. Now, in the perilous tomb, he was even more careful. He stood the stick up again, silently praying for his Eldest Senior Sisters blessing, and once more, it fell towards the northeast. Confirmed, the exit was in the northeast direction. A verified answer couldnt be wrong. Is this a tomb chamber? Following the direction indicated by the stick, Lu Yang found a chamber, unsure if it was the main chamber or a side chamber. Lets see what the book says The main difference between the main and side chambers depends on the local feng shui, requiring divination with an Eight Trigrams disc and a tortoise shell, as detailed below Lu Yang was dizzy with confusion; the methods described were impractical. This is the main chamber, Evesting Fairy asserted confidently. How do you know? Lu Yang was surprised, finding Evesting Fairy useful for once. There were the words Main Chamber written at the entrance. Lu Yang looked outside the door, and indeed, Main Chamber was considerately written. Was this meant for zombies to read? Look, there are many burial objects in the tomb chamber, all treasures! Evesting Fairy called out. Lu Yang looked down, and indeed, treasures were everywhere, suggesting the tombs owner was wealthy in life. It was unclear why the tomb was located here. Hm? The book is glowing? Lu Yang was surprised to see the tomb raiding guide in his hands glowing, Is this book refined? The light from the book scanned over one of the jade burial objects, assessing the value of the jade. Lu Yang was startled, his heart pounding. Could it be that the Shang family patriarch had given him an extraordinary appraisal magic tool? The light enveloped a burial object, and six characters appeared on the light screen: Imprisonment for five years. The light changed, enveloping another object, a sharp bronze short sword, and the words on the screen changed again: Imprisonment for seven years. Lu Yang: What exactly did the Shang family patriarch give me! Evesting Fairy marveled, is this what popr books are like nowadays, quite enlightening. (End of the chapter) Chapter 123: The Tomb Owner Chapter 123: The Tomb Owner Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Just as the screen was about to disy Life Imprisonment, Lu Yang snapped the tomb raiding guide shut, and the screen disying sentences vanished. This time, Lu Yang could no longer use its a characteristic of the era as an excuse. The functionality of this book was truly outrageous, and its outrageousness was tinged with a hint of reasonableness, making it all the more bizarre. Fortunately, Evesting Fairys interests shifted quickly, and she was soon drawn to the burial objects. The ancient era was too far removed from the present, and the standards and styles of burial objects had changed. For example, in ancient times, people believed they would go to the Nine Netherworlds after death. To maintain their dignity in the Nine Netherworlds just as in life, they would use human beings as burial objects. Whenter generations opened ancient tombs, they often found burial objects piled with bones. Nowadays, people have be civilized and have reced humans with terracotta warriors. This reminded Evesting Fairy of something: I remember that Ying Tian Immortal was originally a burial object for some old fellow. Luckily, through feigning death, Ying Tian Immortal managed to escape scrutiny and was brought into the tomb alive. After entering the tomb, he lifted the feigning death technique and freely harvested a great number of herbs and magical treasures in the tomb. The old fellow firmly believed in reincarnation and had stored various heavenly and earthly treasures in the tomb to improve physical constitution, all of which ended up benefiting Ying Tian Immortal. Seizing the opportunity, he underwent aplete transformation, improving his constitution and escaping from the tomb. Then, after a series of fortunate encounters, his foundation grew, and his reputation rose. He emerged as a prominent figure among the younger generation and became one of the main characters of the era, barely qualifying as my rival. Initially, Lu Yang thought Ying Tian Immortal must be a very powerful being. Hearing that he barely qualified as Evesting Fairys rival, Lu Yang decisively ced him on the same level as Evesting Fairy. Are there ranks among immortals? Like human immortals, celestial immortals, and so on? Lu Yang asked. Evesting Fairy realized Lu Yang had misunderstood and exined: Ying Tian Immortals title Ying Tian refers to his belief in being born in ordance with heavens will, seeing himself as the protagonist of heaven and earth, with destiny on his side, hence the self-designation Ying Tian Immortal. (TL Note: Ying Tian means ording to heavens) There are no ranks among immortals; everyones path to immortality is unique, making it difficult to determine who is superior. How can there be a ranking? Evesting Fairys words made one thing clear to Lu YangEvesting Fairy could still be somewhat useful. Its a shame there were no history exams in the Central Continent; otherwise, Lu Yang could have scored full marks. Or perhaps Lu Yangs performance would not be so ster, with the examiner iming all of Lu Yangs answers were wrong, based on his hundred years of research on what the ancient era should have been like. Everyone aroundughed at Lu Yangs ignorance, daring to question the examiners answers, truly overstepping his bounds. At that moment, Lu Yang would reveal his identity as Evesting Fairys host, publicly contradicting them, silencing the crowd, and no one would dare to question Lu Yangs view on the ancient era again. (TL Note: Common chinese novel trope) It felt quite satisfying. Lu Yang had even imagined a scenario for showing off, but there was no opportunity to use it. Evesting Fairy stopped talking about ancient times and observed various burial objects with interest. Lu Yang did not let his guard down and continued to study tomb raiding knowledge: As a tomb raider, one must always remain vignt. Even if you find the main chamber and the burial objects within, you cannot be careless. Some tomb owners extremely detest being disturbed and will set deadly traps in the main chamber. You must be cautious Kid, go ahead and take a closer look at this. Is this something from your era? It looks quite interesting. Evesting Fairy urged Lu Yang, curious about something she saw. Just as Lu Yang took a step forward, he felt as if he stepped on something that could sink, seemingly a stone tile that could be pressed down. Instantly, Lu Yangs forehead was covered in cold sweat, realizing he had triggered a trap. Would it release poison needles from the ground or shoot arrows from the walls? Without giving Lu Yang much time to think, he instinctively leaped backward, trying to dodge any hidden weapons. The mechanism was activated, and the night pearls above suddenly burst into brightness like a miniature sun, illuminating the entire main chamber and dispelling the previously gloomy and terrifying atmosphere. Lu Yang waited for a moment for any new changes but nothing happened, which made his eyelid twitch: So, was that just turning on the light? What does turning on the light mean? Evesting Fairy had never heard of this term. Never mind. Lu Yang increasingly felt that this tomb exuded an aura of absurdity. Its location on the cliff could be exined as a theft deterrent, but having Main Chamber written at the entrance and being able to turn on lights in the main chamber was excessive, right? Is this a normal setting for a tomb? At least, the tomb raiding guide did not mention such things. However, the guide did offer a warning: The more it defiesmon sense, the more dangerous it is. Dont worry, with me here, there wont be any idents! After the lights were turned on, Evesting Fairys courage significantly increased, speaking with more confidence. With the night pearls illuminating the tomb as if it were daylight, even if ghosts appeared, Evesting Fairy would dare to p them twice, letting them know who the real ghost is! Could a noble immortal be afraid of ghosts? Look at the book on your left hand; it seems interesting. Take a look. Lu Yang picked up the book to his left and quietly read the title: Tomb Raiding Journal? Move your thumb; theres another word above. Evesting Fairy said. Lu Yang moved his thumb, revealing the books full name: Anti-Tomb Raiding Journal. Lu Yang: He carefully put away the Tomb Raiding Insights, fearing the two books together might cause some kind of bizarre reaction. Flipping through the book, just as its title suggested, it described how to arrange a tomb in a way that wouldnt attract tomb raiders, even addressingmon tomb raiding methods with countermeasures, quite professional. As the saying goes, for every clever move, theres a counter movea natural principle. Lu Yang thought that if he mastered both Tomb Raiding Insights and Anti-Tomb Raiding Journal, then in the vast world of tombs, where couldnt he raid? He shifted his gaze from the book, intrigued by a tombstone to his right. The tombstone should reveal the identity of the tombs owner. It was time to see who had created such a bizarre tomb. Lu Yang nced at the content of the stele, chilled to the bone, hairs standing on end, and startled, he jumped back a big step. The stele read: Qin Jiunian rests here in eternal sleep. Who is Qin Jiunian, and why are you reacting so strongly? Evesting Fairy asked, puzzled. Lu Yangs voice trembled: Qin Jiunian is the current Grand Elder of our Dao Seeking Sect! What situation was this? Was it a case of the same name and surname, or had the Grand Elder fallen? If the Grand Elder had fallen, then who was the one active in Dao Seeking Sect now? An impostor? For what purpose? The Grand Elder is often elusive, having Brother Dai Bufan preside over the Mission Hall in his stead. Could it be that he was worried about being exposed and deliberately reduced his interactions with others? A series of questions flooded his mind, with the answers remaining unknown for now. At that moment, the coffin vibrated, as if something was breaking free from its confines,ing out of the coffin! (End of the chapter) Chapter 124: The Great Elder Chapter 124: The Great Elder Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang was greatly shocked, his heart pounding rapidly. The coffin in the main chamber was a stone coffin, carved with intricate and ancient patterns of the sun, moon, stars, and flowers. It was unknown which era it was from, but its high specifications absolutely meant it contained the remains of an extremely important figure! And the Great Elder of the Dao Seeking Sect definitely met the criteria of being an extremely important figure. Could it be that the Great Elder of the Dao Seeking Sect is really buried in here?! Lu Yang felt like he was facing a formidable enemy. Had he triggered some mechanism that led to the persons reanimation? Or did the Evesting Fairys ariya-ph cause the corpse to revive? Or was there some other unknown reason? The coffin lid slowly floated up, and an old man with a long beard sat up from inside. Lu Yangs pupils constricted when he saw him C it really was the Great Elder of the Dao Seeking Sect! The Great Elder had once gone to Heavens Gate Peak to ask the Eldest Senior Sister something, and Lu Yang had seen his appearance before. Lu Yang considered whether he should execute the Eldest Senior Sister Shape-Imitating Fist to summon the Eldest Senior Sister, or use the Miles in a Step technique to teleport himself back up to the cliff again. The Great Elders voice was weathered, his eyes filled with confusion. He looked at Lu Yang and said, Lu Yang? Why are you here? Lu Yang was startled. ording to his guess, the Dao Seeking Sect had a fake Great Elder, and the real one was in this coffin. He had only seen the fake Great Elder before, so how did this real one recognize him? Great Elder, you know me? Lu Yang asked carefully. In the spiritual space, Evesting Fairy pouted. Lu Yang had never been so respectful towards her before. She was an immortal, yet this brat Lu Yang had no sense of reverence! Lu Yangs question made the Great Elder even more confused. Of course I know you. Arent you Lu Yang, the sword cultivator disciple of the Ninth Master? I even saw you through the water mirror when you took the Dao Seeking Sects entry test back then. I actually want to ask you, why did youe and disturb my sleep here? Sleep? Lu Yangs brain hadnt processed this yet. Who sleeps in a coffin? The Great Elder let out a huge yawn, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. It seemed he had just woken up. I got too tired from building my tomb earlier, so I took a short nap. Im old, really old. In the past, I never would have felt this tired. You cant fight getting old. Speaking of which, Im already three thousand years old. Building a tomb? Lu Yangs eyes went wide. He had heard that cultivators could sense when their end was near, so they would leave a will and make arrangements for after their death, including building tombs. Lu Yang felt saddened thinking about the Great Elders contributions to the Dao Seeking Sect. Could it be that you are about to about to No matter what, he couldnt get the rest of the words out. The Great Elder nodded. Yes, its time for me to think about what to do after I retire. Dai Bufan said I can live another five thousand years after retiring, so I should find some hobbies and interests. I thought about it and felt building a tomb is a pretty good choice, since Ill be able to use it eventually anyway. Lu Yang: He had just been moved by the solemn atmosphere, causing his brain to short-circuit temporarily. Only now did he recall that those at the Unity Stage could live at least eight thousand years, and with the Great Elders profound cultivation, he could definitely live even longer. Give me back those feelings of sadness from before! Youre building your tomb this early? Lu Yang thought to himself, what an entric hobby. Whats wrong with that? I heard that in some ces, mortals borrow arge sum of money from banks to buy houses, then spend their whole lives toiling to pay off the debt. If mortals can toil their whole lives for a house, then its only natural that I toil in thetter half of my life for a tomb. Lu Yang was rendered speechless by the Great Elders reasoning. I didnt just build this one tomb chamber either. There are others Ive already constructed elsewhere. This is just the initial form C I havent even prepared any zombies yet and just temporarily threw in some white zombies to set the atmosphere. Oh right, I specifically chose a cliff area of our Dao Seeking Sect to build my tomb. How did you find your way here? Lu Yang remained silent, not really wanting to recount the process. So this was still part of the Dao Seeking Sects territory. It seemed he hadnt been teleported too far away. Evesting Fairyzily said, You definitely couldnt have gone far. Teleportation distance is closely tied to ones cultivation realm. Youre just at the Foundation Establishment stage C how far could you possibly travel? Did you really think you could ascend to the heavens? The Great Elder was unable to perceive Evesting Fairys existence. So the reason youre often not at the Mission Hall is because I left things to Little Dai and started enjoying an early retirement. That made sense. Seeing Lu Yangs unwillingness to exin how he ended up at the tomb, the Great Elder asked, Do you need me to send you back? Lu Yang nodded eagerly, as this was exactly what he wanted. The Great Elder came out of the coffin and tapped Lu Yang, enveloping him in a huge bubble. The Great Elder then flew out of the tomb chamber empty-handed, with the bubbled Lu Yang following behind. The Great Elder moved as swiftly as a thunderbolt, instantly leaving the cliff behind. Only then did Lu Yang realize why he had been encased in the bubble C his body couldnt withstand the Great Elders speed. After leaving the cliff, a boundless prairie appeared before their eyes, lush with verdant grass. Sheep grazed on the tender grass, apanied by various ferocious demonic beasts whose terrifying auras made Lu Yangs heart race. This must be the treacherous territory where insufficient cultivation means certain death that the Eldest Senior Sister had mentioned during the entry test. With his current cultivation, there was absolutely no way he could have safely fallen from that cliff Why did that thought sound so awkward? As the Great Elder flew with Lu Yang, the speed was too fast to make out any scenery below, so there was no issue of vertigo. During the flight, Lu Yang felt some trepidation. At the Great Elders speed, they had flown for so long without reaching Heavens Gate Peak C just how far had he been teleported? Just as Lu Yangs thoughts wandered, the Great Elder came to a stop. Lu Yang realized they had arrived at Heavens Gate Peak. The Great Elder set Lu Yang down and then left. While sleeping in the coffin, the Great Elder had encountered a difficult point in his cultivation and wanted to consult his martial uncles about it. He went to the Herb Garden, but the Second Elder wasnt there. He went to the Body Refining Peak, but the Third Elder wasnt there either. He went to the Nobleman Peak, and the Fourth Elder was also missing. Where is everyone? The Great Elder was quite puzzled. He didnt remember the Second, Third, and Fourth Elders being the type to wander around. Normally they were always in their respective ces, so why couldnt he find a single one today? Ji Hongwen, the senior disciple of the Fourth Elder, saw the Great Elder looking for his master and said, It seems the masters found the whereabouts of the Sect Master and went with the Second Elder to Heavens Gate Peak. The Old Nines whereabouts? Heavens Gate Peak? The Great Elder couldnt fathom having to return to Heavens Gate Peak once more. He arrived at Heavens Gate Peak and asked Lu Yang if he knew the location of Daoist Non-Speaker. Lu Yang pointed him in the right direction, and he sessfully made his way to the pine forest, finding his six martial uncles, one martial aunt, and Daoist Non-Speaker eating hot pot together. Seeing the Great Elder standing outside the cave dwelling, Daoist Non-Speaker warmly waved him over. Its been so long since us martial brothers have gathered together. Were just about to have a hot pot feast, and now the great martial brother has arrived. Great martial brother,e on in quickly. We were just missing you. The Great Elder looked at the enthusiastic Daoist Non-Speaker with suspicion. (End of the chapter) Chapter 125: Gathering of the Dao Seeking Sect’s Nine Chapter 125: Gathering of the Dao Seeking Sects Nine Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii In the impression of the Great Elder, Daoist Non-Speaker being so enthusiastic surely indicated a scheme or conspiracy. He became vignt. The Great Elder believed there was a reason for Daoist Non-Speaker to harm him. Daoist Non-Speaker was brought up the mountain by the third eldest when he was still a baby, bing the youngest disciple. From the master to the senior brothers and sisters, no one had ever taken care of a baby, so they gradually figured it out on their own. The Great Elder was skilled in dream magic. When Daoist Non-Speaker was a child and could not sleep restlessly, he used dream magic to make Daoist Non-Speaker sleep soundly. When Daoist Non-Speaker grew up to the stage of cultivation and always dozed off during practice, the Great Elder used dream magic to startle Daoist Non-Speaker awake. Perhaps he frightened him too much, as Daoist Non-Speaker has been psychologically shadowed to this day. Seeing the Great Elder being wary of him, the seven elders also greeted the Great Elder together: Big senior brother,e in quickly, the hot pot is only missing you. It cant just be us who are unlucky, today we must gather the Dao Seeking Sects Nine! Eight people smiled at the entrance of the cave mansion but dared not step beyond the entrance. To others, this scene was particrly eerie. In the Great Elders memory, the seven junior brothers and sisters had never been so enthusiastic. The two thousand years of experience made him much wiser, and he quickly judgedthis was an illusion! He bit his tongue sharply. The Great Elder tried to break the illusion with the blood from his tongue tip, but nothing changed. Was it not an illusion? He remembered Lu Yang saying that the ninth was sealed in the cave mansion by Yun Zhi, but the question was how were the second to the eighth sealed? How were you all sealed? The eighth elder said seriously: Big senior brother, its like this, we heard that the ninth was sealed by Yun Zhi and came to investigate immediately. The ninth said that this seal cannot hold smart people. The seven of us think we are smart and certainly wont be held by the seal, so we tried to enter in turn, and as you see, we ended up like this. The Great Elder raised an eyebrow: Is it that magical? Let me try. The Great Elder walked into the cave mansion, and everyone cheered. What the eighth elder said was not entirely wrong; what smart person would willingly get sealed? Thus, the Dao Seeking Sects Nine were all captured, a cause for celebration. The nine people sat around the hot pot, and the entire cave mansion was filled with mist, like a fairnd with the aroma of hot pot. The ingredients for the hot pot were provided by the third elder. As a body cultivator, one needs to consume treasures of heaven and earth and spiritual flesh of monsters regrly to replenish the bodys consumption. When the Great Elder heard the full story from everyone, his face darkened. So, you eight got trapped here and instead of seeking help, you thought of dragging someone else down? Grandpa Ba stepped forward: We did think of getting out, but the ninth said that to leave, one must ovee their inner demons. However, the inner demons are too strong, and none of us could ovee them. So we worked together and thought of some other methods. For example, the third proposed using a spoon to dig a tunnel. For example, the fourth proposed shouting for help loudly, calling over niece Yun Zhi. For example, the fifth proposed refining the spoon into a magical tool to dig the tunnel. For example, the sixth, she The Great Elder raised his hand to interrupt the Dao Seeking Sects Nine escape ns: Howe I heard from Lu Yang that just sitting in meditation for three days would lift the seal, and he said he told the ninth three days ago, the seal should have been lifted by now. The Great Elder was no fool; he confidently entered not because he was deceived but because he knew the real way out. Eight cold gazes stared gloomily at Daoist Non-Speaker. Daoist Non-Speaker calmly said, I have made significant contributions to the sect. Before you take any action, may I write a will first? While meditating, Lu Yang felt Heavens Gate Peak shake slightly. He was surprised, not knowing what had happened. Who would dare to make a move on Heavens Gate Peak? Fortunately, Heavens Gate Peak only shook once and then returned to its usual calm. Lu Yang did not think much of it. He entered the istion formation left by the Eldest Senior Sister, adjusted his breath, and focused on breaking through to the early stage of foundation building. The Eldest Senior Sister was not guarding him, as breaking through to the middle stage of foundation building was a natural progression for Lu Yang, with no idents expected. There was no need for protection. Momentster, his spirit, energy, and essence all reached their peak. His mind was clear, and he operated the Enlightenment of Heart and Nature Technique technique, swallowing the surrounding spiritual qi. A massive amount of spiritual qi continuously washed over his body. Normally, when breaking through the early, middle, andte stages of foundation building, one would use the opportunity to cleanse the marrow and rebirth, repairing the scars left from cultivation andbat. But for Lu Yang, this step waspletely unnecessary! He had thoroughlypleted the cleansing and marrow-recing during the Qi training stage, with no impurities left to expel! After foundation building, Lu Yangs technique could always keep his body pure, absorbing only the essence and expelling the dross, regardless of what he consumed. The Enlightenment of Heart and Nature Technique technique rified not just the mind but also the body! After the foundation building stage, a liquid spiritual power vortex forms in the cultivators dantian. Lu Yang felt a warmth in his dantian. Looking inward, he could clearly feel the liquid vortex in his dantian growing stronger, swallowing the external spiritual qi and exhaling more refined and suitable spiritual power for himself. He operated the Great Heavenly Cirction, with refined spiritual power continuously circting inside his body, strengthening every part, not missing any detail. The vortex spun faster and faster, with spiritual power flowing throughout his body at an incredible speed, eventually feeling a barrier forcibly broken through by the spiritual power. Lu Yang opened his eyes, his gaze bright and clear. The middle stage of foundation building, achieved. Outside the formation, the puppet saw Lu Yang sessfully advance to the middle stage of foundation building and stabilize his realm without any hidden dangers, then stood up and left. Theres one more thing I havent done. Lu Yang remembered the words from the Foundation Building Manual. The Foundation Building Manual is the foundation building experience left by the seventh elder,ter supplemented by various senior brothers and sisters. It clearly lists all kinds of issues that might be encountered during the foundation building stage without any omissions. Lu Yang gathered spiritual qi in his right hand, gently patted the lower right side of his abdomen, and suddenly spat out a chunk of flesh. The flesh, bloody and seemingly a part of Lu Yangs body. Lu Yang sent out his sword qi, turning the chunk of flesh into dust. Whats that? The Evesting Fairy, watching Lu Yangs advancement in the spiritual world, afraid to speak and distract him from his advancement process, had been silent until now. Finally, she could speak as Lu Yang sessfully advanced to the middle stage of foundation building. She was dying to talk. Lu Yang exined seriously, I wonder if the fairy has ever heard the saying that one should not exercise vigorously after eating. Vigorous exercise can cause severe abdominal pain, and in serious cases, one might roll on the ground in pain, forehead covered with beads of sweat the size of soybeans, greatly affecting cultivation. The senior brothers and sisters of our Dao Seeking Sect discovered through research that by cutting off a small piece of useless flesh during the advancement to the middle stage of foundation building, such incidents can be avoided, and one can move around as they wish after eating. So what you just did was Removing the appendix. The Evesting Fairy: She was somewhat unable to follow the thoughts of cultivators nowadays. (End of the chapter) Chapter 126: The Qingfeng Swords Add-on Chapter 126: The Qingfeng Swords Add-on Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Since her revival, the Evesting Fairy has faced consecutive setbacks. First, she failed to scare Lu Yang and instead got beaten up by Yun Zhi, then she tried to prove her usefulness by attempting to control Lu Yang to fight above his level and was taught a lesson. Now she realized that adhering to her past experiences was futile. The thought processes of current cultivators are much more active than in ancient times, and they also coborate closely, umting cultivation experiences across different realms. This was unimaginable in ancient times when there was still open rivalry and calctions among fellow disciples over resources. How could sects or tribes possibly share their cultivation experiences unconditionally? Oh, there was one exception: the ancient barbarians, who did enjoy discussing their cultivation experiences within their tribes. Lu Yang stretched, got up, and performed a set of broadcast exercises to stretch his muscles and joints, which crackled pleasantly, making him feel inexplicablyfortable. Where are you nning to go? To Hundred Refinements Peak, to customize a weapon. Upon arriving at Hundred Refinements Peak, Lu Yang saw the cafeteria was as bustling as ever. The Evesting Fairy said in surprise, Wow, the Dao Seeking Sect has good food. So many disciples are here to buy food. Lu Yang nodded: The quality of the food is indeed good. However, the purpose of this trip was not the cafeteria but the Hundred Refinement Hall on the other side of the mountain. The cafeteria soldmon weapons, which, although good, might not suit everyone. Thus, the Hundred Refinement Hall came into being, with a master weapon refiner stationed there, specializing in selling custom-made weapons. Are you Brother Lu Yang? At the entrance of the Hundred Refinement Hall, a surprised voice stopped Lu Yang. Lu Yang recognized the person and realized, You are Li Haoran from my cohort! In Lu Yangs cohort, there were three people with single spiritual roots: Lu Yangs sword spirit root, Meng Jingzhous single spirit root, and Li Haoran with the fire spirit root. A little over a month ago, I heard Senior Sister Zhou Lulu saying you were taking a bath inva. Have you finally been able toe out? Speaking of theva bath, Li Haorans face looked quite unpleasant, as if recalling some bad experiences. Finally met the masters requirements, learned to swim inva, eat fire lizards raw, and sessfully built my foundation. I just got out. I was about to look for the master to ask about the next steps when Senior Sister Zhou Lulu said she hadnt seen my master for three days, not knowing where he went. Lu Yang wondered if the Fifth Elder and his master were so close that they were meditating together. After building your foundation, you need to go to the Mission Hall to receive a sect mission. Li Haoran nodded; he had heard his senior brothers mention this. Do you know the way? Shall I apany you? Since he called him Brother Lu Yang, Lu Yang felt it was his duty as a senior brother to help. Then I must thank Brother first. On the way to the Mission Hall, Lu Yang learned about Li Haorans background. His parents were cultivators, not very high in cultivation, only at the foundation-building stage. They were overjoyed to learn that Li Haoran had the fire spirit root and spoiled him immensely. This also led to Li Haorans arrogance and impetuous character. For example, during the climb of the Questioning Heart Mountain, Li Haorans determination was not strong, and many with lesser talents reached the fiftieth step before him; he was thest to seed. Lu Yang guessed that the Fifth Elder, Zhou Xin, saw Li Haorans ws and specifically made him soak inva for a year to temper his determination. Now, it seemed, the effect was significant. In the Mission Hall, the two couldnt find a task suitable for Li Haoran. By the way, do you know how to refine tools? Of course, the master said I have reached the top foundation-building level of tool refining. The fire spirit root is most suitable for tool refining, and Li Haoran had learned tool refining knowledge inva for a year. How about this: I post a tool refining task, you take it on, and if youplete it, my purpose foring here, tool refining, will also be achieved. Lu Yang had already thought it through; the tool refiners in the Hundred Refinement Hall start from the Golden Core stage, which is expensive, and the weapon he needed to refine didnt require such a high-level tool refiner. Brother Lu Yang, you dont have to amodate me. I can juste back to the Mission Hall in a few days. Lu Yang shook his head: Im not amodating you; I just happen to need tool refining, and you are the most suitable candidate. The most suitable? Li Haoran felt ttered. Lu Yang nodded: Yes, youre the cheapest. Li Haoran: The two returned to Li Haorans refining room. Lu Yang took out the Qingfeng Sword, and Li Haoran was startled by the high quality of the sword, which was beyond what he, a foundation-building cultivator, could modify. No, no, no, Brother Lu, you should find someone else. My skills are limited; I cant refine such a sword. Lu Yang knew he had misunderstood and smiled: You misunderstood; its not about refining this sword. I want to add some decorative small parts to the exterior of this sword. Li Haoran breathed a sigh of relief; this was simple: Do you have a blueprint? Yes. Lu Yang was prepared and took out a blueprint four meters in length and width, which didnt look like it was for small parts at all. Li Haoran saw the contents of the blueprint and had an even weirder expression. Although it wasnt difficult to refine, it didnt seem to be rted to ornaments at all. At least, he had never seen an ornament that looked like this. Ive been nning to learn flying sword technique recently. As a sword cultivator, how can I not use a sword? But flying around in the sky without any traffic rules is too dangerous. For safety reasons, I designed this blueprint. I n to sit in a steel shell while operating the flying sword technique, with the flying sword installed underneath the steel shell as the power source. The steel shell will have a seat for sitting, and install two rows of seats, so when I master the flying sword technique, I can take others to fly. This thing is called a steering wheel; it can adjust the direction. And windows. Ordinary people have trouble making ss from sand, but it shouldnt be a big problem for us cultivators to refine ss, right? Technically, there should be brakes, but since Im the power source for the flying sword, theres no need to install brakes. Foot braking will do Right, this big iron shell must be easy to install and disassemble; otherwise, it wouldnt be convenient during battle. Lu Yang detailed the function and refining requirements of the small ornament, leaving both the Evesting Fairy and Li Haoran feeling enlightened. Its not that Im afraid of heights; its just that flying alone is too lonely. I want to bring more people along. Lu Yang emphasized that he was not afraid of heights, Can you refine it? Li Haoran thought it over. Although the item on the blueprint was peculiar, it wasnt difficult to refine. It was just that he had never refined such a thing before and might need a few tries to get used to it: Yes. Thats great. These are ck Thunder Iron, which can be used as refining materials. And this mask, please refine it as well, make it harder so it wont be easily damaged. Lu Yang took out a tofu mask, needing a fake identity for going out. As for the price, how about twenty contribution points? Lu Yang offered the price himself. Twenty contribution points, two thousand spirit stones, the price was definitely not low. Li Haoran epted the task. (End of the chapter) Chapter 127: Sword Flight Chapter 127: Sword Flight Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii TL Note: I forgot to mention it previously but Ive changed Green Edge Sword -> Qingfeng Sword. If anyone has a better name suggestion, leave it in thements! Ive also changed Dao Fruit/Immortal fruit -> ariya-ph. Its a Sanskrit term that means fruit of ones actions in Hinduism and Buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ph) Lu Yang spent three days at Hundred Refinements Peak, during which he constantly discussed with Li Haoran how to better refine flying sword add-ons. It needs to be as light as possible; otherwise, it wont fly or will fly too slowly. Do you think we should install an ejector seat? So, it automatically shoots upwards in case of danger, escaping to the heavens? ce the flying sword above the head? No, no, that wont do. I am practicing legitimate sword flying techniques. Have you ever seen a swordsman who mounts their flying sword above their head? Persistence pays off. After three days of effort, the add-on was finally refined. Should we name it? Li Haoran suggested that Lu Yang give it a name. How about calling it Flying Chariot? Its shape is like a carriage, and it can fly in the sky, Lu Yang proposed a rather simple name. Brother Lu, would you like to try? With the add-on refined, Li Haoran felt a sense of satisfaction and wanted to see how Lu Yang would fly. Lu Yang nodded, somewhat excited. He sat in the chariot, grabbed the steering wheel, and didnt move for a while. Whats wrong? asked Li Haoran. Lu Yang scratched his head: I just remembered, I havent learned how to fly with the sword yet. Li Haoran: I was excitedly refining all this time, and you cant even fly? Dont worry, Ill learn it now. Lu Yang was calm and asked Evesting Fairy to teach him the sword flying technique. The sword flying technique is a must-learn spell for sword cultivators, widely known, and Evesting Fairy naturally knew this basic skill. To be honest, Evesting Fairy was not very keen on teaching Lu Yang the sword flying technique. If he learned it incorrectly, her lifetime reputation could be ruined. The so-called sword flying technique involves using the sword as a medium, carrying the consciousness. The stronger the consciousness, the higher thepatibility with the sword, and the faster the sword will fly Evesting Fairy was far better at teaching than the Eldest Senior Sister, exining in a simple and understandable way. It didnt take long for Lu Yang to learn the sword flying technique. The Qingfeng Sword floated in the air, moving freely. Lu Yang felt that even if an elephant were to step on the Qingfeng Sword, it could still fly smoothly. Lu Yangs talent in swordsmanship was indisputable. Lu Yang had an insight; perhaps this was the function of the Sword Spirit Root, ensuring that one could learn swordsmanship and techniques correctly. There was a groove underneath the Flying Chariot, and the Qingfeng Sword fit perfectly in it, not falling out, exceptionally stable. Lu Yang got into the chariot again, held the steering wheel, activated the sword flying technique, and the Flying Chariot really started to fly, propelled by the Qingfeng Sword! The Flying Chariot initially hovered slowly, not because the Qingfeng Sword was slow, but because Lu Yang was not yet fully ustomed to this new way of flying. As the Flying Chariot hovered at a high altitude, Lu Yang gradually mastered the flying technique. The flying speed increased, performing 8 shaped maneuvers and eventually even sharp turns, which was incredible! With the physique of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment, issues likeck of oxygen and pressure did not affect Lu Yang at all. Ha ha, Even I, Lu Yang, have a day of sword flight! Lu Yangughed heartily, knowing that every problem has a solution. Who says I dare not fly to the sky? Evesting Fairy found this feeling quite fresh. On Hundred Refinement Peak, countless people looked up at Lu Yangs sword flight, dumbfounded. The Flying Chariot, an advanced mode of transportation, was considered a cross-era vehicle even in the forward-thinking, self-proimed trend-leading Hundred Refinement Peak. Look, what is that?! The junior brothers and sisters from the same cohort as Lu Yang were surprised to see the metal shell flying in the sky. I asked Brother Li Haoran a question yesterday and saw this; its a magic weapon refined for Brother Lu! Brother Lu? You mean the same Lu Yang who possesses a Sword Spirit Root, ranked first among us, and sessfully became a disciple of the sect leader? A junior brother widened his eyes, holding Lu Yang in high regard. Without direct contact with Lu Yang, one would be shocked by his lifetime achievements, considering him a safe, stable, and reliable senior brother. Of course, there are also those who have had long-term direct contact with Lu Yang and still havent changed their initial impression of him, like Barbarian Bone. Yes, thats him! Brother Li said that this is Brother Lus sword flying technique! Its amazing, this ispletely different from the sword flying techniques Ive seen, it gives a sense of inexplicable safety! No need for insurance! Among the insurance types proposed by the Land of Gold Commerce, there is one for flight, which can be divided into flight loss insurance, third-party liability insurance, etc. Brother Lu, who is the same age as us, has already been able to create his own sword flying technique, thats the difference! Its a pity Im not a sword cultivator, otherwise I would learn this sword flying technique no matter what! Lu Yang had a great time flying in the sky beforending, looking somewhat reluctant to end the experience. After getting off, Lu Yang noticed Li Haoran respectfully standing aside, and Elder Zhou Xin had arrived at some point. Elder Zhou. Lu Yang greeted respectfully. Hehe, Lu Yang, right? I heard the whole process from Haoran. Your creativity ismendable, it might even be a mainstream mode of transportation in the future. Elder Zhou tters me. Those familiar with me know I dont make a habit of ttering. This Flying Chariot could bring you a lot of benefits. Benefits? Lu Yang was puzzled. Elder Zhou turned to Li Haoran and said, Since youve alsoe out of seclusion, you should get familiar with the main business of Hundred Refinement Peak. Our peak regrly produces items that have never been seen before. To protect the rights to these inventions and gain benefits, we regrly apply for patents at the government office. The same goes for Pellet Cauldron Peak. This is a major source of ie for both Hundred Refinement Peak and Pellet Cauldron Peak. In a few days, your senior brothers will go down the mountain to register. Organize Lu Yangs invention ideas and go with your senior brothers. Elder Zhou then said to Lu Yang, You have good talent and a bright mind, naturally fitting for our Dao Seeking Sect. Learn well from Yun Zhi, the future of Dao Seeking Sect is yours. Try to stay away from that old rascal, Elder Nine. Lu Yang shrank his neck. Normally, as a disciple, he should defend his master against Elder Zhous insults, but he thought adopting Evesting Fairys if you cant beat them, join them optimistic spirit wasnt a bad idea either. Evesting Fairy frowned, feeling Lu Yang was contemting something very rude, but she had no proof. How is master doing now? Elder Zhou coldly chuckled, remaining silent. At Heavens Gate Peak, in the pine forest. The seal of the cave dwelling was finally broken. Everyone from the Great Elder to the Eighth Elder had already left, leaving only Daoist Non-Speaker, who was unwilling to leave. Daoist Non-Speaker was tied up like a worm, wriggling on the ground with yellow paper stuck to his forehead and his mouth gagged with a sock, making muffled noises. The rope was a top-tier treasure, preventing Daoist Non-Speaker from breaking free with brute force. The yellow paper sealed his magical powers, making it impossible for him to cast spells. How long it would take for Daoist Non-Speaker to wriggle out depended on his fate. This was the punishment for Daoist Non-Speaker disturbing the eight who were meditating in an attempt to break the seal by banging drums and gongs. (End of the chapter) Chapter 128: The Secret Meeting of the Five Great Immortal Sects Chapter 128: The Secret Meeting of the Five Great Immortal Sects Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii TL Note: Im changing Undying Being/Maiden to Evesting Celestial/Fairy and Undying Sect -> Evesting Sect On a mountain peak of the Dao Seeking Sect, the decision-makers of the Five Great Immortal Sects gathered together. This peak was shrouded in mystery, unknown to anyone outside the high echelons of the Dao Seeking Sect. The four decision-makers sat quietly, waiting for the organizer of the meeting to speak. Sensing that everyone had arrived, Yun Zhi awakened from her meditation, opening her eyes that seemed to contain thousands of worlds, countless times and spaces, profoundly mysterious. The other four were momentarily lost in her gaze. They were shocked, having not seen Yun Zhi for several years. Even back then, she gave them a sense of immeasurable depth, a feeling that had only intensified over the years. The Dao Seeking Sect was indeed fortunate to have recruited such a genius, and moreover, she was the disciple of that old rascal, Daoist Non-Speaker. However, Yun Zhis profound cultivation was good news for them. With the grand era approaching, abundant spiritual energy, the revtion of the great Dao, the chaos wrought by demonic cults, and the awakening of powers that had slept for hundreds of thousands of years, legendary immortals were gradually emerging. It was imaginable that these powers and immortals would not abide by the current rules. They would seek to redefine the order and divide territories ording to their will, which would be a cmity for both mortals and cultivators. There were already powerful cultivators awakening, attempting to cause turmoil in the Central Continent, but before they could gain momentum, they were jointly killed by the Five Great Immortal Sects. Not all immortals were like the Evesting Fairy, carefree and content. To say nothing else, the ancient nameless beings who refined stars into continents were a tough challenge. In such times, the stronger the Five Great Immortal Sects, the more likely they could withstand the uing disasters. Yun Zhi spoke lightly, Today, I have summoned you here to share some intelligence about the demonic cult. The four felt a chill in their hearts, no wonder Yun Zhi had not used conventional methods like transmitting messages but instead asked them toe in person to the Dao Seeking Sects secret peak. This secret peak, blessed by generations of the Dao Seeking Sects sages and further modified by Yun Zhi, could conceal fates and cover karmic traces, fearless of any leaks. Although the demonic cult was not strong, they worshiped immortals and received many immortal treasures and techniques from them. These treasures and techniques were unpredictable and needed to be handled with care. As you know, over a month ago, I breached the headquarters of the Evesting Sect and obtained some intelligence. Among them, two pieces are noteworthy. One is the method to revive the Evesting Celestial, and the other is about undercover agents.'' The four straightened up, the revival of immortals was indeed significant news. They had heard that Yun Zhi had taken down the stronghold of the Evesting Sect but didnt know how she had found it. The ariya-ph of the Evesting Celestial is very special. Even if he is utterly destroyed and his soul scattered, as long as someone utters his title and immortal name, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he can be revived! (TL Note: Yun Zhi used he instead of she. I assume its because shes talking about the Evesting Celestial and not the Evesting Fairy) The hearts of the four thundered. The ariya-phs of immortals were indeed not simple. The ones they had known about were rted to enhancingbat power, but this was the first time they encountered one purely about survival. The intelligence also mentioned that the Evesting Sect has ced undercover agents within Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, the Prison-Suppressing Sect, and the Five Elements Sect. In reality, this information was not obtained from the headquarters of the Evesting Sect but from Tang Yunsheng, an inspector, who provided it to Lu Yang. When Tang Yunsheng arranged for Lu Yang and others to infiltrate as undercover agents, he mentioned that among the Five Great Immortal Sects, apart from the Hanging Temple, which had few members, and the Dao Seeking Sect, which was full of lunatics making it hard to nt undercover agents, the other three sects had undercover agents within them. The Five Great Immortal Sects are as follows: the Dao Seeking Sect, known for its Daoist techniques and creativity, where the other four gates caution their juniors to steer clear; the Hanging Temple, known for itspassion and potent strength despite having the least number of members, sometimes only a master and disciple; and the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, which believes the moon harbors unspeakable secrets and practices cultivation with the help of the moon, surrounded byurel trees. The Prison-Suppressing Sect, which suppresses all demons and evil spirits. The Five Elements Sect, believing in the unity of the five elements and mastering the ultimate truth of the five elements. The other four great immortal gates think Dao Seeking Sect is ipatible with them. Dao Seeking Sect believes the other four great immortal gates are ipatible with it. Despite these differences, the rtionship between the Five Great Immortal Sects is still very good. So, its about the undercover agents. The master of the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce was not surprised; she is Lan Tings master, and Lan Ting had told her some things. Amitabha. The abbot of the Hanging Temple did not say much. Their Hanging Temple did not have demonic cult undercover agents, partly because of their small numbers and partly because their beliefs differed. People from the demonic cults chant sutras and observe precepts all day long, which would likely lead to a copse of their Dao heart, making it too easy to reveal their ws. Its unexpected that my Prison-Suppressing Sect, which aims to suppress all heretical paths, ended up having an Evesting Sect infiltrator. I will conduct a thorough investigation once I return! The master of the Prison-Suppressing Sect was furious but restrained himself due to the asion. Since there are undercover agents, its likely not just the Evesting Sect; other demonic cult undercover agents might also be hidden. We need to conduct a thorough investigation. The master of the Five Elements Sect said coldly, showing how daring the demonic cults were, essentially disregarding their Five Elements Sect. How shall we investigate the undercover agents? asked the master of the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce. Isnt the Evesting Sect a follower of the Evesting Celestial? How about we have our disciples shout Evesting Celestial is a bastard together? suggested the master of the Five Elements Sect. The four nodded, thinking this was a good idea. The master of the Prison-Suppressing Sect added, Another method is to use a list of suspects we all surely have. We could have someone on the suspect list say The master has recited the immortal name of the Evesting Celestial, and the Evesting Celestial has been revived. The master has ordered all followers to gather at the headquarters.'' The righteous path does not know the method to revive the Evesting Celestial, so if an Evesting Sect undercover agent hears this, they will most likely think the speaker is a fellow cultist. Yun Zhi shook her head: This could alert them. The suspect list contains not only Evesting Sect undercover agents but also agents from other three sects. If they hear you saying this, theyll know youre investigating for undercover agents. The master of the Prison-Suppressing Sect felt Yun Zhis point was valid and did not propose further. Right, the Dao Seeking Sect doesnt have undercover agents, right? I wonder if Yun Zhi could share some insights? The master of the Five Elements Sect said, earning agreement from the other three. Yun Zhi rarely frowned, puzzled by the question. She also didnt know why the Dao Seeking Sect not onlycked demonic cult undercover agents but could also infiltrate the demonic cults as undercover agents. Perhaps its because the disciples of Dao Seeking Sect are simple-minded, while demonic cult followers haveplex thoughts, unable to disguise themselves as Dao Seeking Sect disciples. The five then thought of many malicious methods to investigate undercover agents, with the abbot of the Hanging Temple proposing the most ruthless. If these methods were made public, the worlds perception of them would turn one hundred and eighty degrees. After the secret meeting concluded, the five left the mountain peak, with three leaving the Dao Seeking Sect and only the master of the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce staying behind. What matter brings Master Luo here? Yun Zhi asked, with the Moon Laurel Immortal Pces master named Luo Hongxia. Luo Hongxia called over Lan Ting, who was reluctant toe: Does your Dao Seeking Sect have a disciple named Lu Yang? I have some business with him. My Lan Ting, such a good child, was led astray by him. I want him topensate! Yun Zhi calmly suggested, Why not have the two be Daopanions? Luo Hongxias expression stiffened. (End of the chapter) Chapter 129: Daoist Non-Speaker Escapes the Bind Chapter 129: Daoist Non-Speaker Escapes the Bind Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Luo Hongxia left in a hurry. Initially, Luo Hongxia intended to take advantage of the meeting to demand an exnation from the Dao Seeking Sect, or at the very least, secure a promise that they would not approach Lan Ting. Now, it seemed that not only was there no promise, but if she had left anyter, her little disciple might have been implicated as well. Within a cloud of mist, Lan Tingined, Master, I told you Im fine. You insisted on dragging me to the Dao Seeking Sect. What would Lu Yang think if he finds out! You came back and focused on developing an automatic skewer grilling array, trying to transform into someone else using the Shape-Imitating Fist, and you say youre fine? Ive told you long ago to stay away from the people of the Dao Seeking Sect. Theres a lesson to be learned from experience! Back when I descended the mountain for my cultivation journey, I encountered a disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect. The two of us joined forces to exorcise a ghost and stayed in an inn for a few days after reaching our destination. That ghost was audacious enough to hide under the Dao Seeking Sect disciples bed for three days. In the end, the person discovered the problem, dragged the ghost out from under the bed, and demanded the ghost pay its share of the rent for those three days. Is this the thought process of a normal person? Who was this person? Lan Ting asked. The sect master of the Dao Seeking Sect, Daoist Non-Speaker. Luo Hongxia scoffed and continued, Another time, the two of us encountered a dismemberment case. Over a dozen children were brutally murdered, their bodies mutted, with limbs scattered all over. Only a girl with a dull expression survived. We stayed by the girls side to ensure her safety. After a while, enforcers came and said that after assembling the corpses, they found each body was missing a part. The missing parts could altogether form another girl. At that moment, I felt a chill rush to my head. The girl then revealed a creepy smile andughter, which was extremely unsettling. Daoist Non-Speaker tapped her on the head and said, Whats so funny? Dont you see were discussing serious matters?'' The girl waspletely dazed. Lan Ting: Out of concern for his master, Lu Yang once again arrived at the pine forest of Heavens Gate Peak, only to see Daoist Non-Speaker tied up in a very distinctive manner. Is performance art now a trend in our Dao Seeking Sect? Lu Yang wondered. Daoist Non-Speaker struggled fiercely, makingrge movements and mumbling something through his gag, as if asking for help. Lu Yang removed the yellow paper from his forehead, allowing Daoist Non-Speaker to regain his magical powers, untie the ropes, spit out the sock, and sessfully escape the bind. Daoist Non-Speaker, with tears in his eyes: Good brother, from now on, were equals. You call me master, and Ill call you master! Lu Yang thought it might be better to tie his master back up. Daoist Non-Speaker stepped out of the cave, arms wide open towards the sunlight, embracing nature: Ten years, I have finallye out! Then he thought the atmosphere wasnt quite right, so he manipted the clouds to make it rain over a small area above him. The heavy rain quickly soaked him through, and he opened his arms again, embracing freedom: Ah, ten years, I have finallye out! Perfect. Having achieved the desired effect, Daoist Non-Speaker dispersed the rain clouds and turned to Lu Yang, Im nning to go down the mountain to narrate stories. Do you want toe with me? Daoist Non-Speaker had not forgotten his mission. Lu Yang was tempted but shook his head: No, my identity is too sensitive. It would be bad if someone from the Evesting Sect recognized me. Daoist Non-Speakerughed heartily: Whats so difficult about that? Daoist Non-Speaker waved his hand across Lu Yangs face, causing Lu Yangs features to subtly change, making himpletely unrecognizable. Its just about not being recognized by enemies, right? I understand; Im very experienced in this area. Rest assured, no one in the Unity Stage can see through my disguise! Lu Yang wasnt particrly interested in where Daoist Non-Speakers experience came from, but this way, he could indeed go out without worries. Can I bring a friend along? Of course. Lu Yang called over Meng Jingzhou, who was exercising with punches and kicks. Going out for fun? Is it safe? With a big shot leading, its guaranteed to be safe. Lets go. After a brief exchange, Meng Jingzhou was ready to go out with Lu Yang, without even asking where they were going or what theyd be doing. Could it ever be boring with Lu Yang? Who is this person? Meng Jingzhou quietly asked, not recognizing Daoist Non-Speaker. My master, Daoist Non-Speaker. Lu Yang proudly introduced. Daoist Non-Speaker recognized Meng Jingzhou, gently stroking his white beard: Ah, the young Mengd. Ive heard your grandfather talk about you. I even drank at your full-month celebration. You know my grandfather? Meng Jingzhou was somewhat surprised; he had never heard his grandfather mention this. Daoist Non-Speakerughed at the question: Ive known your grandfather for over a thousand years. After Meng Jingzhous appearance was altered in the same manner, he asked, How are we setting off? I have a carriage. Lu Yang waved his hand dismissively: No need. Ive recently learned a new sword flying technique that allows for sword flight. But a sword can only carry one person, right? What about the two of us? Meng Jingzhou raised an eyebrow. Lu Yang proudly pulled out an oddly shaped flying chariot from his identity jade card: You can think of this as a sword sheath, just a bitrger. I can activate the sword flying technique, and the flying chariot can take to the skies, carrying up to five people! Meng Jingzhou walked around the flying chariot, tapping on its shell and listening to the resonant echo, his eyes lighting up: Nice piece of work. Did you invent this? Naturally. Daoist Non-Speaker nodded repeatedly, admiring his disciples exceptional talent in swordsmanship, certain that Lu Yang would one day be no less distinguished than him! With excitement, Lu Yang set up the flying chariot. Meng Jingzhou took the passenger seat, and Daoist Non-Speaker sat in the back. They all buckled up, feeling a novel sensation. Take off! The Qingfeng Sword emitted a sword cry, and the flying chariot soared into the clouds. Master, which direction? Daoist Non-Speaker pointed forward: To the south. The south is bustling with many thoroughfares, perfect for me to narrate stories! The flying chariot headed south. When encountering flying boats, the passengers were astonished by the existence of the flying chariot. Daoist Non-Speaker tapped the back seat, an invisible shuttle-shaped barrier expanded, reducing air resistance. He also used the sword flying technique to aid the chariots flight. Feeling his masters support, Lu Yangs confidence soared, and the flying chariots speed increased another notch. With the master onboard, safety was assured! When Yun Zhi checked on her masters condition, the cave was empty, leaving only a golden rope, yellow talisman paper, and someones sock. Returning to her cave, there was a note left by Lu Yang at the entrance: Im traveling with my master for a while, dont worry about me. Yun Zhi grew even more worried. Her master couldnt distinguish north from south. Above a small town in the west, the flying chariot malfunctioned and plummeted straight down. (End of the chapter) Chapter 130: 【Rules】 Chapter 130: Rules Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Whats happening? The rapid descent of the flying chariot greatly rmed Meng Jingzhou. Lu Yang broke out in a cold sweat, desperately operating the sword flying technique, but the chariot continued to fall. He had lost control of the Qingfeng Sword and couldnt sense its presence. Daoist Non-Speaker said in a deep voice, This ce disables the use of spiritual power; all spells are ineffective! What?! Having seen much of the world, Daoist Non-Speaker roughly guessed what was happening. If it was indeed what he thought, the three of them were extremely unlucky. However, now was not the time to discuss this. The priority was to save Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. He stood up, opened the roof, grabbed Lu Yang with one hand and Meng Jingzhou with the other, tucking them at his waist, and leaped down. Although spiritual power could not be used in this ce, there were no restrictions on the physical body. As a Unity Stage powerhouse, Daoist Non-Speaker could jump from a great height without any harm. Lu Yang tried to open his eyes several times to assess the situation, but the strong wind during the fall made it impossible for him and Meng Jingzhou to see. Just beforending, Daoist Non-Speaker released his hold, gently dragging the two to slow their descent before hended first, creating arge crater on the ground. Immediately after, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhounded, caught by Daoist Non-Speaker, with less than a second difference between them. If Daoist Non-Speaker hadnded directly with the two in his arms, he wouldnt have been hurt, but Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou could not withstand the impact and would have either died or been seriously injured! Huff, huff, huff! Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were still in shock. This trip was truly unique; they had just left and already experienced a crash. Where is this? Lu Yang frowned, finding themselves in a mundane small town, unable to understand why spiritual power couldnt be used here. Why isnt anyoneing out? Lu Yang discovered another issue. It was just past the hour of Hai, and the noise from the flying chariots crash was loud, yet not a single person came out to investigate. Could it be that there were no living people in the town, making it a dead town? No, thats not right. The thatched cottages and the inn had candles lit, and shadows could be seen moving through the paper windows. There definitely were people. Whats going on? Lu Yang felt an eerie strangeness about this ce. He looked at Meng Jingzhou, who shook his head, indicating he didnt know what was happening either. Daoist Non-Speaker walked over to the wreckage of the flying chariot, pulling out the Qingfeng Sword from underneath. The sword was a high-quality gift from Yun Zhi to Lu Yang, and such damage couldnt harm it. Take it, for self-defense. Daoist Non-Speaker handed the Qingfeng Sword to Lu Yang, his expression solemn and no longer jovial. Daoist Non-Speaker discovered that this ce had an extremely severe suppression of spiritual power, preventing even him from mobilizing his spiritual power. Suddenly, a piece of paper appeared in the hands of all three, densely written on both sides. Rules of Commoner Town Rule 1: Within the town, spiritual energy does not exist, and spiritual power cannot be used Rule 2: From the hours of Hai (9pm-11pm) to Chen (7am-9am), thatched cottages and inn rooms with doors closed are absolutely safe. Everywhere else is dangerous Rule 3: You must leave the thatched cottages and inns by the Si hour (9am-11am), and cannot return until before the Xu hour (7pm-9pm) Rule 4: You must fall asleep before the Zi hour (11pm-1am) Rule 5: Do not enter rooms marked with the character for heaven Rule 6: If you hear knocking on doors or windows inside the thatched cottages or the inn, regardless of what is said, do not open the doors or windows Rule 7: Only flower dogs and white dogs exist in the town, no ck dogs. If you see a ck dog, run away immediately Rule 8: The private school has been abandoned for many years. There are no teachers, only barking dogs can be heard from the school, no voices of people reading. Rule 9: Those wearing gray clothes are private school teachers. Ignore whatever they say. Rule 10: Do not make eye contact with the private school teachers. If you do, you will turn into a ck dog Rule 11: All food in the town is provided for free; you may take it yourself, but do not eat the meat buns Rule 12: Be wary of enforcers; individuals in ck clothes are enforcers. If encountered, run away immediately, and do not turn your head, regardless of what they call out Rule 13: If you feel someone is following you, believe it is an illusion and avoid showing unease or irritability Rule 14: A dead body is called a corpse; it is normal for corpses to move Rule 15: If you have questions inside the inn, ask the innkeeper; if outside, ask the apothecary, but do not speak to them Rule 16: Do not speak or eat anything after entering a ck door Rule 17: Do not easily believe the words of strangers, but people in white clothes always tell the truth Rule 18: There is a monster that eats people in the ancestral hall Rule 19: The ancestral hall is safe Rule 20: Townsfolk cannot reveal anything about the town to outsiders Rule 21: If you leave the town or kill the town chief, there is no need to abide by the rules of Commoner Town After reading the rules, the paper in Lu Yangs hands disappeared into thin air. What is this? Lu Yang had a sense of absurdity, feeling that the rules hinted at something ominous. Its a trick made by a Unity Stage cultivator! Daoist Non-Speaker said solemnly, having seen the twenty-one rules, he finally confirmed his guess. There were Unity Stage powerhouses, and from the way they were suppressing him, there was more than one Unity Stage! Disciple, Little Meng, have you two ever heard of the Great Era ising? The two nodded, but they still didnt quite understand. The concept of the Great Eraing was too vague, and they didnt know what it specifically referred to. The Great Eraing has many manifestations, one of which is the awakening of strong beings from other eras from their slumber! Now the spiritual machine is clear, the Daos charm is active, it is easier to practice and understand the Dao, and some even say its possible to be an immortal! In the Great Qian era, the Great Yu era, many great beings emerged, but they were trapped by their ownprehension and couldnt break through further. For this reason, they came up with the method of slumber, using the essence of spirit stones as a carrier, sealing themselves, and entering a state of pseudo-death, waiting for the Daos charm to be active, at which point they would awaken from their slumber. After their consciousness awoke, their bodies had not yet fully awakened, and they needed to wait for a period of time. For this reason, they would use all means to protect themselves and not expose their whereabouts. Demarcating areas, setting rules, imprisoning those whoe, is one of the means. Do you know the difference between the Void Refinement Stage and the Unity Stage? The two shook their heads, this was still very far away for them. The difference between the Void Refinement Stage and the Unity Stage lies in whether they have mastered the Rules. Rules? Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou repeated unconsciously. The Unity Stage can modify the rules of reality within a certain range based on their own will, but the modified rules cannot be too contrary tomon sense, for example, they cannot set I am invincible, immortal in this area, etc.. The river spirit test and the questioning heart mountain test you encountered when you joined the sect are all manifestations of rules. The Unity Stage has less control over rules and needs to set multiple rules to restrict the activities of people within the rules. The Tribtion Crossing Stage, immortals have different degrees of control over rules, with immortals being the most exaggerated. Bing an immortal condenses the ariya-ph, the ariya-ph is the symbol of rules, its power covers the whole world. Lu Yang remembered the Evesting Fairys ariya-ph C as long as someone recites her honorary title and immortal name, she can be revived. From the result, the individual Evesting Fairy is immortal. But from a global perspective, it means that the Evesting Fairy can transcend time, space, soul, body limitations, and directly revive, defyingmon sense of the world, which is terrifying! Lu Yang shared his guess with the Evesting Fairy, and the Evesting Fairy nodded, affirming Lu Yangs thought: Not very old, but your mind works quite quickly. Lu Yang didnt have the mind to pay attention to the Evesting Fairys teasing, listening to Daoist Non-Speaker continue: From the rules perspective, only this small town is under the opponents control, the Unity Stages grasp of the rules is not so small, the opponent is afraid of being discovered by the immortals of The Great Xia dynasty! The rules that even restrict me, indicate that the opponent has more than one Unity Stage. Daoist Non-Speaker revealed a fierce light, his gaze sharp as a sword: The Five Great Immortal Sects and The Great Xia dynasty have already stopped many Unity Stages from awakening, it seems today I need to eliminate a few more! He flicked his dust brush, the tassels as fine as cow hair, releasing millions of sword qi. The sword path is the foundation for Daoist Non-Speaker, he hasprehended it all his life, without the need to use spiritual power, he is still able to use sword qi! The sword qi struck the small towns barrier, the barrier couldnt withstand the sword qi, sting a gap. At the gap, four figures waited for Daoist Non-Speaker, indeed there was more than one Unity Stage! They set their own rules, and they also had to abide by them, they couldnt use spiritual power within the town, they had to deal with Daoist Non-Speaker outside the town. Kill him! Daoist Non-Speakerughed loudly, took big steps out of the town, released the peak pressure of Unity Stage, and faced off against four Unity Stages! With just you bunch of trash also wanting to kill me? Before leaving, he left a message for Lu Yang and the other: This battle mayst several days, you two live well in the town! The gap healed, Daoist Non-Speaker disappeared outside the town. (End of the chapter) Chapter 131: The Dangerous First Night Chapter 131: The Dangerous First Night Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou knew that despite Daoist Non-Speakers heroic demeanor, this battle was not going to be easily concluded. In fact, the best course of action would have been for Daoist Non-Speaker to take them and flee the area. His decision not to do so implied he wasnt confident he could protect them from the ancient Unity Stages that had awakened. Lu Yang performed a set of the Eldest Senior Sister Shape-Imitating Fist, attempting to summon Eldest Senior Sister. He found he couldnt use his spiritual power, not even able to transform. The Lu Familys Shape-Imitating Fist truly was a spiritual technique. Meng Jingzhou tested his current level: Although we cant use techniques, our physical strength hasnt changed much. That was somewhat good news. What time is it now? Lu Yang recalled Rule 2, which mentioned Rule 2: From the hours of Hai (9pm-11pm) to Chen (7am-9am), thatched cottages and inn rooms with doors closed are absolutely safe. Everywhere else is dangerous. From Hai to Chen is from 9 pm to 9 am. When we crashed, it was the hour of Hai. Theres no one on the streets now; people must have gone home. We must find a ce to stay, either a thatched cottage or an inn! There were a few thatched cottages nearby with lights on. Meng Jingzhou knocked on a door, politely saying, Fellow vigers, we are cultivators who have strayed into this ce. Please open the door and let us stay for the night. We will be deeply grateful and offer gold and spirit stones, whatever you choose! Meng Jingzhou tried several houses, but not one opened their doors. Lu Yang stopped him: Dont waste your effort. Have you forgotten Rule 6, which states that you absolutely must not open the door to knocking sounds? Commoner Town surely has more than just us; there are ordinary people too, who also need to follow the rules. Rule 19: Townsfolk cannot reveal anything about the town to outsiders indicates Commoner Town has its natives. Meng Jingzhou was about to say something when Lu Yang hushed him, signaling to be quiet. Not far away, they heard the sound of footsteps, heavy and withrge intervals between breaths, indicating arge size. The rhythm of the footsteps suggested four legs, or even more; Lu Yang didnt know what kind of monster this was. Lu Yang could even see the monsters shadow around the corner. Run! Lu Yang whispered, and they hurriedly fled. Facing an unknown opponent without clear knowledge of their realm and capabilities was unwise. They ran in the direction opposite the monster. The monster didnt notice them, and they quickly lost it. They stopped to listen for any nearby movement, ensuring there were no monsters around, before cautiously walking on the streets and finding an inn. The inn was brightly lit, with a person in white clotheszily leaning on the counter and two travelers discussing which room to stay in. Finally found an inn; Im exhausted. Give us two Tian (heaven) numbered rooms. A traveler mmed a silver ingot on the counter. Hispanion quickly stopped him: Did you forget what was written on that paper? We cant stay in Tian numbered rooms! Do you really believe that paper? Better safe than sorry. Thepanion took the silver ingot, uneasy about the strange town and determined to leave first thing in the morning. He politely asked the person in white for two Di (earth) numbered rooms. The person in white took the silver without offering change, handing over three keys: One group can only rent one room. Di number 3 room has only three keys; all are yours now. The traveler frowned; the inn was really overcharging for a Di numbered room. Lu Yang warned them, Make sure to follow the rules on the white paper. The travelerspanion, remembering the rule about not easily believing strangers, was unsure of Lu Yangs intentions and quickly went upstairs. Meng Jingzhou was about to ask for a Di character room when Lu Yang grabbed a piece of paper and pen from the counter and pulled Meng Jingzhou behind him. Meng Jingzhou realized, recalling rule number fifteen, which stated, If you have questions inside the inn, ask the innkeeper; if outside, ask the apothecary, but do not speak to them. Lu Yang wrote on the paper: Are you the owner of this inn? The owner wrote back: Yes. Lu Yang took out a silver ingot and wrote: Rent us a Dizhi room that hasnt had any deaths. The owner handed over three keys marked Dizhi No. 4 room. The two exchanged nces and went upstairs, noting that there were ten rooms on the second floor. Eight of them had ck doors, and only Dizhi No. 3 and Dizhi No. 4 rooms had brown doors. Dizhi No. 3 room was for the merchants, and Dizhi No. 4 room was theirs. Entering their room, they only rxed once seated on the bed, noticing their hearts were beating fast. Hasnt your family ever told you about this kind of thing? Lu Yang asked. Not at all. I had no idea Unity Stages ability was to modify reality and set rules. The few Unity Stage elders in my family spend their days raising birds, gardening, fishing, and cursing in the streets; they dont seem like theyre capable of this! Lu Yang agreed, having never noticed such power among the Dao Seeking Sect elders. He believed Eldest Senior Sister might possess such ability. At least the prestige matched the power. Footsteps sounded, light and seemingly human. Knocking on the opposite room, the voice was gentle, with a very humble posture: Guests, have you gone to bed? The boss identally gave all three keys to you. I cant open the door. Ive prepared some dinner for you, its free. Could you please open the door so I can bring it in? The guests in No. 3 room, wise to the strangeness, adhered to the rules and didnt respond. The knocking grew louder and more intense, echoing throughout the corridor. Guests, open the door! Open the door! Do you hear me asking you to open the door! Believe it or not, Ill break down this door! Dropping the disguise, the figure knocked violently, but fortunately, the door was of high quality and remained intact. Failing to deceive the merchants, the figure reverted to its gentle voice: Then Ill leave the food at your door. The merchants still didnt respond. The figure repeated its tactic, knocking on Lu Yangs door, starting gently then increasingly bing aggressive, revealing its true nature. Still, no one was deceived. Footsteps sounded as the figure left. But those footsteps are too short, not like someone going downstairs or upstairs. Its still on the second floor! Lu Yang felt a chill. He imagined a scene: the figure with hands on the walls, hiding on the ceiling, waiting for the merchants to rx and sneakily open the door to get the food, then dropping down on them Not knowing whether the merchants shared his thoughts or were just cautious, they showed no intention of opening the door. Lets sleep, Meng Jingzhou yawned, recalling the rule that one must sleep before the hour of Zi, or 11 PM. He took a nket from the closet,id it on the floor, voluntarily taking the lower spot. Then he blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness, with the thin moonlight shining through the paper windows into the room. Meng Jingzhou looked out the window, his heart stopping. A ck figure appeared outside the window, swaying left and right, as if clinging to the window sill, trying to peek inside. The problem was, this was the second floor. How tall was this person?! Check if the window istched! Lu Yang suddenly shouted, remembering the rule about not opening windows! After entering, they were only concerned with locking the door and forgot about the windows. Whether the windows weretched or not was unclear! They moved quickly and found the window utched. They managed totch it just before the figure could knock, seeing the humanoid ck shadow through the window, their hearts pounding. The two survived their first night without incident. (End of the chapter) Chapter 132: Crisis Lurks Everywhere Chapter 132: Crisis Lurks Everywhere Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The two woke up to a dimly lit dawn, still some time away from the hour of Si. I was scared to death yesterday! Meng Jingzhou, recalling the experiences of the previous night, was still frightened. Lu Yang was moreposed: First, get familiar with the rules. Knowing the rules means theres nothing to fear. Meng Jingzhou nodded. They reviewed the twenty-one rules to ensure there were no discrepancies in their memory before feeling reassured. What time is it now? At that moment, the sound of a gong came from outside, and the night watchman called out as he struck it: The hour of Si hase. They hurried downstairs. On the first floor, two merchants were angrily confronting the innkeeper: We left our horses in the backyard stable yesterday. Why is there only a saddle left today? Lu Yang remembered the massive creature they encountered the previous night. It was likely that it had eaten the horses. Since there had been no sound of the horses neighing, it meant the horses had no chance to resist. It was indeed a terrifying creature. Ignoring the merchants, the two rushed out of the inn. Evesting Fairy reminded them: Those two merchants have a heavy aura of death about them, entangled with vengeful spirits. They are not simple travelers. Lu Yang nodded, indicating he understood. The streets were filled with the aroma of food as restaurants opened, steaming dishes tempting ones appetite. However, eerily, the restaurants were empty of people. One of the steamers had a sign that read Meat Buns. The townspeople, dressed in coarse brown hemp, seemed ustomed to this scene. They took their breakfast and sat down to eat, avoiding the meat buns. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou also did as the locals, enjoying three pancakes and a bowl of soy milk. Lu Yang noticed people ate quickly, some even eating while walking, seemingly in a rush. Amotion arose from one side of the street, and a group of people hurriedly fled. Those who were eating also abandoned their meals and ran. Lets run too! Lu Yang grabbed a pancake and fled. They ran to the opposite end of the street and looked back to see what had happened. A group of people dressed in ck, about a dozen, with knives at their waists, approached. Hey you, stop! One of the ck-d people shouted at someone trying to escape. The person instinctively turned their head, and their head spun a full three hundred and sixty degrees, hanging limp. The man in ckughed heartily, sat down at the entrance of the restaurant, lifted the lid of the steamer, and started eating a meat bun, grease dripping from his mouth. The dead person lifted their head, twisted it back into ce, and left the scene as if forgetting what had just happened. Theyre the governments enforcers. The rules say we cant eat meat buns, but the enforcers can, indicating they have to follow different rules than us, Lu Yang analyzed quietly. There are many breakfast options, but all the enforcers chose meat buns, indicating they can only eat meat buns. And the rules also mentioned not turning heads, it seems turning your head could twist it off! The two exchanged nces and decided to leave, staying as far away from the enforcers as possible. At the very start, human nature is good. Nature is simr, but habits make us different Passing by the private school, they heard the clear sound of reading, the mature voices of a group of adults reciting the Three Character ssic. (TL Note: The work is one of the Chinese ssic texts. It was probably written in the 13th century and is mainly attributed to Wang Yinglin. It is not one of the traditional six Confucian ssics, but rather the embodiment of Confucianism suitable for teaching young children. Until thetter part of the 1800s, it served as a childs first formal education at home. The text is written in triplets of characters for easy memorization. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Character_ssic) However, Lu Yang remembered the rule that stated Rule 8: The private school has been abandoned for many years. There are no teachers, only barking dogs can be heard from the school, no voices of people reading. This was definitely not right. The two quickly left, only to be blocked by a person wearing gray clothes: You two look unfamiliar. Could it be that youvee from somewhere else? Rule 9: Those wearing gray clothes are private school teachers. Ignore whatever they say. Rule 10: Do not make eye contact with the private school teachers. If you do, you will turn into a ck dog The two quickly reacted, bowing their heads and walking forward, avoiding eye contact with the private school teacher and not listening to anything he said. The private school teacher, persistent, said beside them: I see you two are well-dressed, likely possessing some cultivation. Could it be you also believe in the rules written on that piece of paper? Not all rules on the paper are true; some are meant to mislead. In fact, the person who set these rules here meant no harm. He only wished to protect himself, hence resorting to such measures. He knew of your arrival and specifically asked me to help you. I have a way to leave this town, but the price is that you will lose your memories of this town. Just recite the Three Character ssic in the private school for three days, and you can leave the town! I am not deceiving you. You can hear the voices in the private school; someone has already left the town with my help yesterday. The private school teacher suddenly ran in front of them, bending down to make eye contact with Lu Yang. Lu Yang closed his eyes and walked forward. Before closing his eyes, he saw the teachers face was missing skin on the lower half, exposing red muscles, which was very unsettling. Seeing that the two were ignoring him and kept their heads down, the private school teacher had no choice but to give up, shouting from behind them: This is your only chance to leave the town. Youll regret not epting my help. Evesting Fairy spoke in the spiritual space, Lu Yang, dont believe his words; only part of what he said is true. A part? Lu Yang was somewhat surprised; he had assumed everything the teacher said was false. He indeed has a way to let people leave the town, but not as humans. Instead, as ck dogs. I saw him releasing several ck dogsst night. Before he met you, someone made eye contact with him. After doing so, the person suffered from severe headaches, bloodshot eyes, and ck fur started growing on their arms before they walked into the private school. Lu Yang felt a chill down his spine; the private school teachers abilities were tricky and not easy to deal with. Lets go to the tailors shop. Lu Yang had some ideas that needed verification. The two visited every tailors shop in Commoner Town, finding none that sold ck, white, or grey clothes, nor did they have the corresponding fabrics. While wandering around the town, they noticed a question: Where is the ancestral hall? The rules stated that the ancestral hall was safe, yet also mentioned it housed monsters. Such contradictory statements meant this ce was surely no simple matter. However, they didnt find the ancestral halls location after circling the town. As evening approached, nearing the hour of Hai, they had to return to the inn. Dear guests, youve returned safely. Our inn is very secure; you dont need to be so nervous. I will ensure your safety. At the inns entrance, the smiling waiter greeted them. The waiter had no whites in his eyes, only pure ck pupils, as if he could see what ordinary people couldnt. Their skin crawled at the sound of this voice; it was unmistakably the voice from the hallway knockingst night! It was himst night! Waiter, its not yet time. Go back to your room! The innkeeper shooed away the waiter. The waiter stared down the innkeeper for a long while before reluctantly leaving. Lu Yang noticed the waiter headed towards the third floor, where the rooms marked with heaven were located. (End of the chapter) Chapter 133: Corpse Movement is a Normal Phenomenon Chapter 133 Corpse Movement is a Normal Phenomenon Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii (TL Note: Extra free chapter because I forgot to upload it when scheduling and Im toozy to reschedule everything so congrats) When the two returned to their room, they encountered the two merchants from yesterday. The previously overbearing merchants were uncharacteristically friendly today, even inviting them to sit for a while. Lu Yang, not wanting to have too much contact, declined directly. After being refused, the merchants didnt seem annoyed and closed their room door. The sound of gongs rang out again, with the night watchman announcing, The hour of Hai has arrived. The regr footsteps returned, and the inns waiter with pitch-ck eyes wandered the hallway. The waiter gently knocked on the opposite rooms door: Dear guest, are you there? Please open the door. Just when they thought it would be likest night, with the merchants resolutely not opening the door and the waiters knocking growing louder to a deafening level, Creak The opposite door was opened. One of the merchants, shocked by hispanions action, eximed: What, what are you doing! Why would you open the door! Hurry up, close the door! Dont drag me down with you if you want to die! Why cant the door be closed! Although there were supposedly two merchants, from beginning to end, only one was speaking. The other didnt make a sound, which was very eerie. Dont, donte any closer, ah A blood-curdling scream came from the opposite room, followed by silence. What happened? The merchants arent foolish, why would they willingly open the door? Meng Jingzhou felt a chill in his heart. Lu Yang pondered for a moment, considering a possibility: Do you remember the person killed by the enforcers this morning, how he came back to life looking no different from a living person? The rules mentioned, It is normal for corpses to move, but they never said anything about corpsesing back to life! Was the person who came back to life this morning really still himself? Meng Jingzhous eyes widened: Are you saying one of the merchants died, but thepanion didnt realize it? Lu Yang nodded: Exactly. Meng Jingzhou felt a shiver down his spine, thinking they had seen many people in the streets today, assuming not many had fallen victim. It now seemed that the streets during the day might be filled with the living dead! Loud knocking resumed, this time at Lu Yangs and Meng Jingzhous door. Help, save me! The waiter is trying to kill me! Open the door, quickly! Please, have mercy, save me. I can give you gold, spirit stones, even the location of secret realms! Dont kill me Then came the sound of an axe cutting into flesh, hitting bone, apanied by the merchants screams. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou exchanged nces, both deciding not to open the door. The room across had just been silent, and now someone was crying for help againsomething was off, bizarre, and strange. Moreover, Lu Yang learned from Evesting Fairy that the two merchants were not good people; there was no need to save them. The merchants voice vanished, reced again by the waiters gentle knocking: Dear guests, are you there? Please, open the door. Dear guests, are you there? Please, open the door! Im telling you two to open the door! Open the damn door for me! Like the previous night, the knocking grew louder, audible throughout the inn. Whether it was the quality of the door or restrictions set by the rules, the waiter did not seed in breaking it down. Lu Yang heard the waiter ascending the stairs, likely heading directly back to the rooms marked with heaven. No monsters appeared outside the window that night, ensuring their safety. The next day, upon leaving the inn at the hour of Si, Lu Yang noticed the door opposite theirs had turned from brown to ck. The two merchants emerged from the room, cheerfully greeting Lu Yang. Rule 16: Do not speak or eat anything after entering a ck door Lu Yangs gaze sharpened; the two merchants were no longer bound by the regr rules. Meng Jingzhou couldnt help but ask, Who was crying for helpst night? The two merchants appeared confused, their expressions seemingly genuine, Crying for help? Who cried for help? Unable to gauge the merchants situation and unwilling to delve deeper, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou quickly left. During the day, the two followed the enforcers from a distance, discovering that the enforcers only ate once a day, and it had to be meat buns. Meng Jingzhou once stole a meat bun and found that besides meat, there appeared to be nails and hair inside. After eating, the enforcers would walk through the streets, herding the crowd like ducks. The unfortunate ones who inadvertently turned their heads would instantly die and thene back to life. Did you notice? The enforcers roamed around the town but never went near the private school! Lu Yang spread out a map they had drawn while exploring the town yesterday, marking the crash site, the inn, the private school, the tailors shop, the apothecary, and the official residence. The drawing was rough, but the good news was they could understand their own work. It seems their rules are not uniform, not irond! Meng Jingzhouughed, noting this as good news, depending on how they could use this information. Walking on the street, they noticed through paper windows that there were figures moving inside the thatched cottages. The rules demanded Rule 3: You must leave the thatched cottages and inns by the Si hour (9am-11am), and cannot return until before the Xu hour (7pm-9pm), so what could be inside the cottages? It seems there are many rules of this town we are not aware of. Different identities require adherence to different rules, making Lu Yang think the ancient Unity Stages had too much free time. Fairy, can you see whats happening outside? Hows my master doing in the fight? Evesting Fairy marveled, Your master has a profound understanding of swordsmanship. Facing four opponents alone, hes not at a disadvantage. Lu Yang nodded, reassured. Returning to the inn, Lu Yang wrote a line on a piece of paper and handed it to the innkeeper: Are you from outside? Meng Jingzhou, understanding Lu Yangs intent, knew the rules stated locals couldnt reveal anything about the town to outsiders, but the innkeeper could, indicating he wasnt a local. The innkeeper was surprised by Lu Yangs question and wrote back a Yes. Lu Yang wrote: Ordinary person or cultivator? The innkeeper wrote: Qi Cultivation Level 9. Lu Yang wrote: How did you be the innkeeper? The innkeeper wrote: I cant say. Lu Yang wrote: Do you have to follow different rules from us? What are they? The innkeeper wrote: I follow the Commoner Town Inn Rules, I cant tell you the specifics. Lu Yang then wrote: Do you want to leave? The innkeepers hand trembled: Yes. Lu Yang took out his identity jade card: We are disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect, who stumbled into this ce and also wish to leave. Knowing they were Dao Seeking Sect disciples, the innkeeper became more agitated and wrote with trembling hands: What do you need? Lu Yang wrote: Take off your white clothes. The innkeeper was taken aback by Lu Yangs request, not expecting this. His rules stated Within the rules, fulfill the guests requests as much as possible, except those against ethics, and did not mention not taking off clothes. The innkeeper took off his white clothes and handed them to Lu Yang. Lu Yang kept the clothes and returned to their room with Meng Jingzhou. After two days of knocking, its our turn today! Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhouughed coldly. (End of the chapter) Chapter 134: Reversal of Roles Chapter 134: Reversal of Roles Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii As the hour of Hai arrived, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were the only guests left in the inn. The waiter, holding an axe with fresh blood still dripping from it, descended from the third floor. Whose blood it was remained unknown. A smile crept across his lips. Despite being forced into the town and to abide by its rules, these restrictions provided an opportunity, a chance to unleash his true nature. He had forgotten how long he had been in Commoner Town, and he lost count of how many he had killed. These two had been lucky. Commoner Town was full of pitfalls, yet they had managed to avoid falling into any traps and survived until now. Previous guests werent so fortunate; unfamiliar with the ce and dismissive of the rules, they quickly met their demise. There are ten rooms in the ground-floor section, and nine turning ck is proof of their fate, not to mention those foolish enough to stay in the rooms marked with heaven on the third floor. The luck of the new arrivals was about to run out. He decided to knock on their door all night, until the morning. Even if he couldnt kill them, he wanted to torment them. Strange, why is the light off in Ground Room Four tonight? The waiter quickly understood the reason and sneered, Thinking this will make me spare you is naive. He adjusted his tone and gently knocked on the wooden door, Dear guests, lets open the door, perhaps theres been some misunderstanding. He paused and then continued in an even more steady and reliable voice, Dear guests, lets open the door, perhaps theres been some misunderstanding. As always, there was no response. Suddenly, a hand emerged from nowhere, grabbing his ankle. Whos there! He looked down sharply, only to discover that, unbeknownst to him, a dog p had appeared at the bottom of the wall of Ground Room Four, extending a pale hand that firmly gripped his ankle. The hands strength was surprisingly strong, pulling him down with a force he couldnt resist. ng The waiter fell to the ground, and his axe slid away. He desperately crawled, trying to break free, but the grip was beyond his imagination, unbreakable! He was ustomed to dragging others; never had he been dragged himself! He sensed impending doom, a ludicrous notion! After all, he was the hunter, and the guests were the prey! No, this could indeed happen! the waiter recalled the second rule. Rule 2: From the hours of Hai (9pm-11pm) to Chen (7am-9am), thatched cottages and inn rooms with doors closed are absolutely safe. Everywhere else is dangerous Ground Room Four was still closed, making it an absolutely safe ce for the guests. If he were dragged inside, his fate would be dire! The waiter wed at the floor with his fingertips, like prey half-swallowed by a python, trying to escape his fate. He screamed desperately, Help! Help me! Save me! His cries were heartfelt. Unfortunately, no one came to his rescue. There wasnt a rule in the Commoner Town Inn Rules about saving the waiter. When most of his body was dragged inside, he pressed his hands against the walls on both sides and, with a sudden burst of strength, broke free from the grip. The waiter didnt bother to pick up his axe and limped back to the rooms marked with heaven. He got away? Meng Jingzhou felt somewhat helpless. The waiters strength was surprisingly formidable; even crushing his ankle didnt stop him. They had decided that today they would resolve the annoying waiter, tired of being disturbed by his pointless knocking every night. Hadnt he heard? When had the two of them, dignitaries of the demonic sect, ever tolerated such treatment?! After two days of observation, they had grasped the rules of the inn and quickly devised a n. Lu Yang, using the Qingfeng Sword and following the waiters physique, dug a hole beneath the wall. Utilizing the rule rooms with closed doors are safe, they ensured that pulling the waiter in wouldnt lead to any harm to them, maintaining control over the situation. Theres fun in lively prey! Lu Yangs lips curled into a cruel smile, his terrifying voice echoing in the room. Two dark figures emerged from Room Four, one wielding a sword, the other empty-handed, thetter picking up the dropped axe. The tip of the sword scraped against the ground, making an irregr sizzling sound, while the dripping blood from the axe tapped rhythmically. The shadowy figures, armed with blood-stained weapons, roamed the inn. The second floor nothing. Then it must be on the third. There were four rooms on the third floor, all marked as heaven rooms. The sword-bearing shadow knocked on a door, voice gentle, We heard theres free dinner here, were hungry and would like to eat. Please, open the door. Seeing no response from Room One, Lu Yang grew impatient, knocking harder, Open up! We want to eat! What kind of service is this! Theres been a misunderstanding between us, open up, lets have a proper chat! Open up! Hurry, or Ill break down the door! The knocking was so loud it could be heard throughout the inn. Lu Yang kicked open the door to Room One to find it empty. He tried to enter but was repelled by an unseen force. Rule 5: Do not enter rooms marked with the character for heaven The waiter, hiding in one of the rooms, trembled at the noise next door. Dont be scared, the rules say Do not enter rooms marked with the character for heaven, they cante in, they cante in. The waiter muttered to himself,cking confidence. Rooms Two and Three were also kicked open by Lu Yang, but the waiter was nowhere to be found. That leaves Room Four! Without a second thought, Lu Yang kicked the door open and indeed found the waiter curled up in the darkness. Come out! Ill spare your life! Meng Jingzhou threatened with a menacing tone. The waiter, seeing Meng Jingzhou bluffing, rxed andughed loudly, Ha! As expected, you too must follow the rules! Only he could decide who enters and who doesnt in the rooms marked with heaven. Moreover, he had an absolute advantage in these rooms; no one could harm him! Just as the waiter was contemting whether to drag them in, Lu Yang nonchntly produced a wooden que. The waiters face turned to sheer terror upon seeing it. The que read: Room Four. Anticipating such a scenario, Lu Yang had switched the door te of Room Three with Room Fours, turning Room Threes ck door brown, effectively making it Room Four. This method worked. Lu Yang swapped the door te of Room Four with Room Four, removing the barrier, allowing direct entry. One with a sword, the other with an axe, both wearing terrifying smiles. Under the waiters horrified gaze, they entered the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind them. Now this ce was Room Four, apletely safe area for them. Lu Yang kicked the waiter down, cutting his tendons to prevent escape. Meng Jingzhou gave him a couple of hard ps as a fee for scaring people. Then, they changed him into white clothes. Speak, what do you know! Rule 17: Do not easily believe the words of strangers, but people in white clothes always tell the truth (End of the chapter) Chapter 135: The Pharmacy Chapter 135: The Pharmacy Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii How many dangerous people are in the inn? Lu Yang first sought to ascertain the source of threat in the inn, whether it was just the waiter. The waiter in white clothes trembled as he extended two fingers, Tw-two. Who? You two. Meng Jingzhou advanced with a kick: Keep it straight! The waiter, helpless, confessed that in his white clothes he could not lie; indeed, the two of them were the most dangerous in the inn. Lu Yang rephrased his question: To ordinary people, how many dangerous individuals are in the inn? Just me, the waiter truthfully answered. Who is stronger, you or the innkeeper? I am stronger, but we must follow different rules. He can naturally suppress me. Is your strength the same in the rooms marked with heaven as it is elsewhere? No, based on the rules, my strength in the rooms marked with heaven is greater. Are there others like you who have different strengths in different ces? Yes, for example, the entities in the thatched cottages during the day. They are strong within the cottages and can freely move between them, but once they leave, their strength bes no different from that of ordinary people, and they lose their ability to move through spaces. However, I dont know exactly what those entities are. Anything else, like the enforcers in ck or the private school teacher in grey, do they have enhanced strength? No, but they were cultivators to begin with, so they are much stronger than ordinary people. Whats the rtionship between the enforcers and the private school teacher? I guess its not good, there might bepetition. Like me and the enforcers, we need to kill a certain number of people to leave the town. Im not sure about the specifics on the private school teachers side, but the requirements are probably the same. Do you know where the town chief is? I heard hes in the official residence, but Ive never seen hime out. How can the town chief be killed? I dont know. What are the town chiefs powers and abilities? I dont know. Where is the ancestral hall? The ancestral hall cannot be found during the day; it only appears at the hour of Hai. The waiter answered all questions, appearing quite honest. The information provided by the waiter aligned with what Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had spected, with little discrepancy. Having no further questions, Lu Yang acted, removing the waiters white clothes before piercing his body with a sword, ending his life. As helmsmen of a demonic sect, they believed in leaving no survivors. Lucky you took it off earlier, or the white clothes would have been stained, Meng Jingzhou stretched, Finally, we can have a peaceful sleep. Lu Yang felt simrly, content with the nights achievements and d for the absence of annoying knocking. They searched the waiter and found the inn rules, but having already deciphered them, this was of little use. Our rules disappeared after one reading, and if not for our good memory, we wouldve forgotten them by now. They can keep a copy of the rules to ensure they remember correctly; it seems the waiter and his kind are treated quite differently from us. On the third day at the hour of Si, the night watchmans call woke them up, and they yawned, feeling refreshed from a good sleep. The innkeeper, hearing themotion and the waiters cries for helpst night, decided to check on him in the morning. Seeing the waiters gruesome death, he remained silent for a long while. Are these two really from the righteous path? Leaving the inn, Lu Yang left a note for the innkeeper: The white clothes worked well, well borrow them for another two days. Lu Yang did not notice the innkeepers gaze filled with a trace of terror. And that note, its tone, why did it sound so much like those domineering demon cultivators who refuse to pay their debts? That things pretty good, Ill borrow it for a bit, and Ill give it back once Im done with it kind of vibe. Must be my imagination? Clearly, the innkeeper knew very little about the Dao Seeking Sect. For low-level cultivators like him, most of what they know about such a colossal entity as the Dao Seeking Sectes from rumors. And rumors, most of the time, are unreliable. After leaving the inn, they found a pharmacy with a young apprentice in gray clothes greeting them warmly. What do you need, sirs? Did you hear a dog barking, or did you encounter a ck dog? If you heard barking, I have the right medicine for you. The apprentice brought over a pot of bubbling red medicine, This is made from cinnabar grass ground into powder and boiled for ten hours. After drinking this medicine, you will feel temporarily drowsy. Sleep it off, and the effect of the dog barking will be gone. If you encountered a ck dog, then you must follow me quickly; otherwise, youll soon be assimted by the ck dog. Theres a well in the back of the pharmacy. You need to draw water from it yourself. As long as you drink the water you draw, you wont be assimted by the ck dog. Meng Jingzhou wanted to say they were looking for the owner but was stopped by Lu Yang. Meng Jingzhou understood Lu Yangs intent; there was no need to exin to the pharmacy apprentice, who is a stranger, and likely speaking falsehoods. They satfortably, letting the apprentice show his anxiety and concern for them without saying a word. About half an hourter, the apprentice went into the backyard, and the pharmacy owner in white clothes appeared. Did you encounter any trouble, or do you have any questions? The pharmacy owner, an old man with a kind face, seemed trustworthy enough to share ones troubles with. They remembered the rules, which stated they should not speak with the pharmacy owner. Lu Yang handed the owner a note: We heard a dog barking, what should we do? Youll need two qian of Tongming grass, moisten with saliva, crush it, and use the pulp to plug your ears. Plug them for a quarter of an hour to negate the effect. Lu Yang wrote again: Well take four qian of Tongming grass. Also, what if we encounter a ck dog? Encountering a ck dog is troublesome. Those who see a ck dog will involuntarily start barking. Once they bark, theyll be assimted by the ck dog. Theres a solution, though. Sew your mouth shut with needle and thread, leaving no gaps, for half an hour. During this time, do not make any sound, and you wont be assimted by the ck dog. Lu Yang listened carefully, then wrote: How do we leave the town? Leaving the town, thats even more troublesome. I even think its impossible. Theres a temple in the town with a half-naked Buddha statue blindfolded. Take the statue out of the temple, smash it, and a passage to the outside world will appear. However, theres a bone-disintegrating wind in the passage. The wind enters through the seven orifices and exits the same way. Between entering and exiting, the flesh dissolves, leaving only a skeleton. Death is certain, and no one can resist. This is the only way to leave the town. Their hearts sank at such rules, clearly designed to prevent anyone from leaving. Thinking about it, the ancient Unity Stage cultivators hidden here would definitely not allow their presence to be exposed. (End of the chapter) Chapter 136: No Way to Clear the Level? Chapter 136: No Way to Clear the Level? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The owner of the pharmacy continued slowly, This ce was arranged by several Unity Stage cultivators, who established the rules. The formation has both life and death gates, and as heaven leaves a sliver of hope, the rules set here must have a way out. But the Unity Stage cultivators didnt really want anyone to leave, so they set up this seemingly nonsensical rule. It serves their interests, while also adhering to the principle of leaving a sliver of hope. Lu Yang, suppressing the urge to curse, continued writing: Then how do we kill the town chief? The pharmacy owner said, Its impossible to kill him; the town chief is immortal. How do you n to kill him? Meng Jingzhou clenched his fists, cursing the group of Unity Stage cultivators who set up the rules in his heart. It would have been better not to set up the twenty-first rule at all; whats the difference between having it and not having it?! Lu Yangs expression was also not good, but he remained calm, knowing that swearing wouldnt solve the problem, and continued writing: Where is the town chief? The pharmacy owner chuckled, Do you really think about killing the town chief? Unfortunately, I do not know his whereabouts, but you can ask the enforcers, as they are closest to the town chief. As for whether theyll tell you, thats not my concern. Before leaving, the pharmacy owner called out, Seeing that you truly wish to leave this ce, let me remind you that the town chief knows everything that happens in the town. Its his ability, so be careful. Meng Jingzhou wanted to politely thank him, but remembering he couldnt speak to the pharmacy owner, he could only nod to acknowledge. Lu Yang was indifferent from beginning to end. Do you think what the pharmacy owner said is all true? Meng Jingzhou quietly asked. Lu Yang didnt answer, and only after they had walked a distance from the pharmacy, he sneered, Given the rules, what he said is naturally true, but it doesnt necessarily mean hes on our side. Do you know the biggest difference between him and the innkeeper? What? The pharmacy owner tried every means to make us speak. Meng Jingzhou was shocked, realizing that when theymunicated with the innkeeper, both parties used text, but whenmunicating with the pharmacy owner, it was always them writing and the pharmacy owner speaking. One party speaks, and the other party, without being careful, might respond with their voice. Cunning old fox. Meng Jingzhou muttered under his breath, then felt something was wrong, If he wanted to harm us, why would he still remind us that the town chief knows everything happening in the town? Lu Yang didnt even think before saying, Seeing that we are trying every possible means to leave, and he cant stop us, he then tells us important information, letting us know that the town chief is unbeatable. This could lead to two oues, either giving up on leaving or creating chaos within our ranks, leading to our own defeat. Meng Jingzhou clicked his tongue, feeling troubled, The biggest problem now is that the town chief knows what we are up to. Even if we figure out a way to leave, the town chief can stop us! How do we manage to sneak away under the town chiefs watchful eye? Lu Yang pondered for a moment, then suddenly had a sh of inspiration. He took out paper and pen, writing: We use text formunication, maybe it could reduce the town chiefs attention on us. Meng Jingzhou nodded. Lu Yang continued writing: Do you remember the jade pendants our sect gave us? Each pendant is a symbol of identity. Once a pendant is shattered, the sect will send someone to check on us. The pendants are too hard for us to crush, but we can throw them at the exit, where the wind will shatter them. Meng Jingzhous eyes lit up, realizing it was indeed a good n. Meng Jingzhou also wrote: Then how do we deal with the town chief? Lu Yang wrote: To understand the town chiefs behavior, we need to start with the enforcers. The two scribbled on paper, formting a detailed n, then burned the written paperpletely, acting as if nothing had happened. As Lu Yang walked, he approached the private school nearby. As always, there were sounds of reading, but ording to Evesting Fairy, these were actually barking sounds, which, under the influence of the rules, turned into reading sounds. If someone couldnt suppress their curiosity and wanted to enter the private school, the reading sounds would turn into barking, and something bad would happen. The private school teacher approached Lu Yang, continuing to persuade him to enter the private school. Lu Yang looked down, pretending not to hear. The private school teacher was eloquent, saying endlessly, My friend, we meet again. Youvee alone, which means youve had a falling out with yourpanion. This shows you still believe what I said. Dont believe what the rules say, nine truths and one lie, you cant tell them apart Just as the private school teacher wanted to surprise attack Lu Yang, suddenly, as Lu Yang, who was bending over and bowing his head, looked up, everything went dark, and he didnt know what happened. The private school teachers attention was all on Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou sneaked up behind him and bagged him with a sack. Both were eager to avenge theirst scare by the private school teacher, not afraid of his gaze now, they had to get revenge! The demonic sect often harbored vindictive individuals, and this trait was evident in both Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Hit him! The two punched and kicked the private school teacher mercilessly. The private school teacher had never encountered such a situation before, howling continuously, Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! [Rule 9: The one wearing a gray robe is the private school teacher. If you encounter the private school teacher, no matter what he says, you need to pretend you didnt hear.] Both were the kind-hearted type who would stop when the other party begged for mercy, but due to the rules, they had to pretend not to hear whatever the private school teacher said. They had no choice but to continue hitting him. Finally, the two sighed in relief, feeling satisfied after beating him up. Before leaving, Meng Jingzhou spat, Pah, scum, dont let me see you again. The two returned to the inn, arm in arm. The private school teacher broke free from the sack and watched their retreating figures with a fierce gaze. Dont let me see you again! On the fourth day, at the time of si, the two went down to the restaurant on the ground floor, the only ce in town with meat buns. Rule 11: All food in the town is provided for free; you may take it yourself, but do not eat the meat buns Considering that meat buns were free, even if they couldnt eat them, they decided to take them all, using the same sack they had used for the private school teacher the day before. When the enforcers in ck clothes came to the restaurant as usual, they found not a single meat bun left. Who did this! the enforcers raged. ording to theCommoner Town Enforcers Rule, they could only eat meat buns every day, so what were they supposed to eat now?! Boss, look at those two, are they carrying our meat buns? An enforcer with a keen sense of smell caught the scent. Seeing the enforcers looking at them, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou knew they had been found out and hurriedly ran away. What was initially suspicion now became certainty: Its definitely them, chase! The townspeople of Commoner Town found that the usually quiet town was unusually noisy today. You two bastards, stop right there! As Lu Yang ran, he responded, Cant do that, rule number twelve saysBe wary of officials; individuals in ck clothes are officials. If encountered, run away immediately, and do not turn your head, regardless of what they call out, Im just following the rules, dont make it hard for us. The yamen leader was furious, The damn rules didnt say to take away the meat buns! Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhous legs moved incredibly fast, and the enforcers couldnt catch up with them. (End of the chapter) Chapter 137: The Outwitted Officers Chapter 137: The Outwitted Officers Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Research from Pellet Cauldron Peak shows that long-term consumption of meat buns can cause nutritional imbnces and poor physical development. To improve the diet of the officers, the kind-hearted Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou decided to do something about it. In the morning, the diligent Master Lu and Master Meng decided to take away all the meat buns, forcing them to eat vegetarian food for bnced nutrition, and urged the officers to exercise more, run regrly, and keep their muscles and bones active. The officers dly epted the advice of the two experts and expressed their determination to follow the experts closely, hoping to catch up with them soon to thank them in person. The two experts were not just talkers; they proved the feasibility of their health theory by running themselves. The officers were deeply moved and began to exercise by running, whichsted the whole morning. Feeling that the advice of the experts was spot-on, they freely promoted the reputation of the two experts, and soon, the entire town heard the officers shouting. Stand still if you dare! You two scoundrels, I promise not to kill you! What are you taking the meat buns for if youre not eating them! The officers were furious, chasing after Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou relentlessly. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou dared not let the officers catch up, so they ran off, leaving the officers to eat their dust. As they ran, Lu Yang said, The rules really didnt lie, look how dangerous these officers are, chasing after us for no reason, we cant let them catch us. Meng Jingzhou agreed, Exactly, luckily we are at the Foundation Building stage, if it were someone else, they would have been caught long ago. The officers tried to take a detour to block them, but the two were already familiar with the towns map and couldnt be stopped. The two led the officers on a chase from morning until nightfall, and by the end, the officers were clearly unable to run anymore, each of them gasping for breath and staggering. By the time of the Hai hour, the two returned to the inn with the meat buns, as the officers red at them fiercely, unwillingly returning to the government office. ording to the Commoner Town Enforcers Rulethey must stay at the government office from the Hai hour to the Chen hour. The two felt a bit regretful; they had made a lot of preparations in the inn, thinking it would be a surprise for the officers if they could enter the inn. Unfortunately, it was not to be. On the fifth day at the time of Si, the usuallyzy officers arrived at the diner on time. In the past, they would be a quarter of an hourte, appearing suddenly when the ce was crowded to scare people, and if lucky, they could even break necks. This time, in order to eat meat buns, they changed their habit. After running all day yesterday without getting any meat buns, they were starving. They came early this time, before those two miscreants could tamper with anything, to eat their fill. Halfway through their meal, they saw Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou slowlying out of the inn. Dare to show up in front of us! The officers, remembering what happened yesterday, were furious and determined to catch the two. Lu Yang, unhurried, said, I advise you not to chase me, or terrible things will happen. Who are you trying to scare! The head officer obviously didnt believe Lu Yang, thinking it was a bluff. There are only twenty-one rules in Commoner Town; the situation Lu Yang mentioned could not happen. Charge! Seeing them ignore the warning, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou sighed, turned around, and ran. The officers hadnt run far when someone began to roll on the ground, clutching their stomach, sweating from the forehead in pain: My abdomen hurts so much! Like a chain reaction, one after another began to scream in pain, even the head officer couldnt bear it, curled up on the ground to lessen the pain, unable to stand up. The meat buns are poisoned The head officer red at Lu Yang, convinced that they had been poisoned by them. Lu Yang sauntered over: I told you not to chase us, but you wouldnt listen, and now youre suffering, arent you? Where did you get the poison! The head officer couldnt understand, as it was impossible for the pharmacy owner to provide Lu Yang with poison. Where did Lu Yang get the poison? Lu Yang squatted down, patted the head officer on the head, and said affectionately, Remember, you shouldnt exercise vigorously after eating, or you might get appendicitis. Read more books, and dont think everything is poison. We are from a reputable sect, how could we poison you? As one of the five major immortal sects, Dao Seeking Sect conducts itself with integrity and would never stoop to poisoning, an act considered beneath them. At least, no living enemy has ever encountered Dao Seeking Sect using poison. The officers were in agony with abdominal pain, rolling on the ground. Those who werent affected stood fearfully, not daring to act. In this way, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou confidently disappeared from the officers sight. What the two didnt notice was the gaze of the Commoner Town citizens on the roadside, filled with horror. Thank goodness these two are abiding by the regr rules. If they were wearing ck and became officers, would we still have a way to live? Indeed, they im to be from a reputable sect, but who knows? They might be undercover agents from a demonic cult infiltrated into the righteous path! The citizens of Commoner Town were relieved that Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were on their side, otherwise, they feared they wouldnt survive three days. On the sixth day at the time of Si, the officers got smarter. They grabbed the meat buns without eating them and blocked the entrance to the inn. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had anticipated this and escaped by jumping out of the second-floor window. Chase them, dont let them get away! Two days of umted resentment reached a terrifying level. Remembering the pain from the day before, the officers wished they could tear them to pieces. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou became even more adept at running, unbeknownst to the officers, who ended up chasing them right into the territory of the private school. The private school teacher, grinding his teeth at the sight of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, called over the people who were reading in the school. Those reading in the school couldnt really be called human anymore; their bodies were covered with ck fur, and their mouths were elongated, with some so severe they were almost on all fours, barely a step away from bing ck dogs. Catch them! ordered the private school teacher. The officers, seeing this, were also enraged. How dare they try to steal their targets! The private school teacher tried to make eye contact with Lu Yang, but Lu Yang was prepared and pulled out a bronze mirror, holding it in front of his face. Better take a look at your own ugly face! In the mirror, the private school teacher saw his own skinless face and blood-red eyes, let out a wail, and underwent a transformation, quickly returning to the academy to sew his mouth shut. Without the private school teachersmand, the ck dog-people followed their previous orders and shed with the officers. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou took advantage of the chaos to grab an officer, attempting to strip off his clothes, but found they couldnt do so no matter what. They had to settle for searching the officer and found the Commoner Town Enforcers Rule. Just like the inns waitstaff, to avoid forgetting the rules, the officers always carried them. Having obtained what they wanted, the two made their escape. As for the officers, the two decided to respect their wishesif they wanted to fight, let them fight. (End of the chapter) Chapter 138: Calculations All Around Chapter 138: Calctions All Around Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Outside Commoner Town, five Unity Stage powerhouses engaged in battle, which had alreadysted for five days. Four ancient Unity Stage masters controlled their domains to prevent the aftermath of the battle from leaking out, while Daoist Non-Speaker unleashed fierce attacks within his domain. Damn, why did we have to encounter the most difficult type of cultivator to deal with C a sword cultivator! one of the Unity Stage frowned. Historically, sword cultivators have had the most powerful attacks. It was their first time dealing with a contemporary Unity Stage sword cultivator, and their luck couldnt have been worse. All four were in thete or peak stages of Unity, forming a formidable team that had never met its match within the Unity Stage. Yet, they found themselves at a disadvantage against Daoist Non-Speaker, risking defeat if they were not careful. This was partly because they were maintaining the rules of Commoner Town and had not fully awakened from their long slumber. Even so, it underscored the terror of Daoist Non-Speaker. Even in our era, Unity Stage sword cultivators were not of this level! Another Unity Stage spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura fluctuating as he had been carelessly struck by a sword and needed to concentrate to heal his injury. Fortunately, there are four of us, and only one of him. Prolongedbat is in our favor. After another ten days, I refuse to believe he can still be so vigorous! Is Commoner Town alright? If someone uses the rules to find a legitimate way to leave Commoner Town, we will be subject to bacsh. Daoist Non-Speaker, who was breaking through Commoner Towns rules with his sword energy, obviously did not fall within the legitimate category. Whats there to worry about? The fifth among us is the town chief. Even though hes in a possessed body, those two youngsters wouldnt be able to deal with him. Right. With the thought of the fifth being in Commoner Town, the four felt at ease and continued to fight Daoist Non-Speaker. Daoist Non-Speaker, hearing this, grew worried about Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. I told them to stay put in Commoner Town; they should be obedient, right? Thinking of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou in Commoner Town, Daoist Non-Speaker considered them good, obedient kids and continued fighting the four. Little Yun would surely be worried about leaving Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou behind. Given time, she woulde looking for him. One sword transforms into ten thousand! Daoist Non-Speaker shouted, intending to unleash his full power for a quick resolution, startling the four. The technique of transforming one sword into ten thousand was well-known in ancient times, and they were naturally aware of this move. Daoist Non-Speaker raised his arm high, and the golden sword energy shone like the sun. With a flick of the sword, ten thousand swords appeared, all seeming real and indistinguishable from the original. As the ten thousand swords descended like a mountain tsunami, their power was unimaginable. Be careful, hes making a desperate move! one of them warned. Daoist Non-Speaker changed his sword technique again: Unity of Man and Sword! Hepletely vanished, merging with the sword. With tens of thousands of swords present, the four had no way of determining which sword Daoist Non-Speaker had merged with, rendering them unable to find him. Frustrated to the point of wanting to spit blood, they had never heard of such a tactic for dying time! You call yourself a sword cultivator! Rules for the Commoner Town Constables Rule 1: Those wearing ck clothes are people of the official yamen, and once worn, the clothes cannot be taken off. (TL Note: Yamen is somewhat of abination of a police station and a court ofw, as they arrest and judge. I tranted it as Government Office previously but i think sticking to yamen is better.) Rule 2: You can call out to anyone at will, and the necks of those you call out to will be twisted. Rule 3: There are only fifty constables and one town chief in the official yamen. If you see anyone else, please ignore them. Rule 4: From the hour of hai (9-11pm) to the hour of chen (7-9am), you must stay in the official yamen. Rule 5: Your food is only meat buns. If you do not eat for three days, you will die. Rule 6: The town chief only has one head and two arms. Rule 7: If you feel dizzy, have blurred vision, or ck hair grows on your arms, and it does not return to normal within one hour, you may ignore Rule 4 and immediately go to the ancestral shrine. Rule 8: You will not see the town chief from the hour of hai to the hour of chen. If you do see him, firmly believe it is an illusion. Rule 9: If one hundred peoples necks are twisted because of you, you can choose to leave or not leave Commoner Town. After leaving Commoner Town, you will lose all memories of being there. Rule 10: Without viting the above rules, you must obey the orders of the town chief. Rule 11: In the center of the small town there is a 300-year-old catalpa tree. From the hour of hai to the hour of chen, the catalpa tree will be the ancestral shrine. Finally, we know the location of the ancestral shrine. Meng Jingzhou smiled, saying that originally they had nned to cause some trouble to find out the location of the ancestral shrine. Now, it had be much simpler; this was an unexpected joy. Lu Yang was focused on another matter. After all, they had gone through a lot of effort to obtain the Commoner Town Enforcers Rule specifically to learn the whereabouts of the town chief. Its a bit tricky, Lu Yang noted. The rules state that From the hour of hai (9-11pm) to the hour of chen (7-9am), you must stay in the official yamen. and You will not see the town chief from the hour of hai to the hour of chen. If you do see him, firmly believe it is an illusion.. This suggests that the town chief is not in the government office during the Hai to Chen hours. Not knowing the town chiefs location means they could potentially encounter the town chief while heading to the ancestral shrine. We cant face the town chief lightly; his abilities shouldnt be limited to just one, and the extent of his power is unclear. We need to try to bypass him. Suddenly, Lu Yang seemed to have realized something: Did you notice? From the Hai hour to the Chen hour, the town chief is not in the government office, and during this time, the thatched cottages and the inn are safe. That leaves only the streets as dangerous! Whats on the streets, only monsters! Its very possible that the town chief is the monster! Meng Jingzhou frowned: But look, the rules also say Rule 6: The town chief only has one head and two arms.. Does a monster look like that? Lu Yang nodded: Do you remember the shadow we saw outside the window on our first night? It was as tall as two floors, with an upper body resembling a humans, which doesnt conflict with the description in the rules. The rules dont describe what the lower body looks like! Meng Jingzhou made a decision: We wont return to the inn during the Hai hour; well stand next to the catalpa tree. As soon as it turns into the ancestral shrine, well rush in, smash the Buddha statue, throw the jade pendants in, and then split up to quickly return to the inn. Splitting up meant that even if one of them encountered the monster, the other would be safe, ensuring that at least one of them would remain safe. The monster might not dare to eat us. Our lives are connected to the soulmps. If we die, themps will go out, and people from our sect wille. These Unity Stages will surely die! Lu Yang seemed to be speaking to Meng Jingzhou, but in reality, he was addressing the all-knowing town chief. The two arrived at the catalpa tree in the center of the town, as time ticked away. The Hai hour has arrived Apanied by the night watchmans shouts and the gongs sound, the space around the catalpa tree began to distort, gradually transforming into an old wooden ancestral shrine. Outside the shrine was written Commoner Town Ancestral Shrine Rule. Both were extremely nervous, instinctively reaching for the jade pendants at their waists, their expressions changing dramatically. Our jade pendants are gone! they eximed simultaneously. At that moment, a dull voice emanated from within the shrine: Hehe, two naive children, if you could find the paper with the Commoner Town Enforcers Rule amidst the chaos, couldnt Imand the officers to steal your jade pendants during the confusion? Commoner Town Enforcers Rule 10: Without viting the above rules, you must obey the orders of the town chief. (End of the chapter) Chapter 139: Who is the real hunter? Chapter 139: Who is the real hunter? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Damn, things are indeed not that simple! Lu Yang frowned. The town chief, or rather the monster in the ancestral hall, made their situation very dangerous. What should we do? Meng Jingzhousplexion was also poor, his brain rapidly working to find a solution. Lu Yang caught a glimpse of the rules posted at the entrance of the ancestral hall with the corner of his eye. Commoner Town Ancestral Shrine Rule Rule One: If you are wearing ck or white clothing and feel dizzy, have blurred vision, or grow ck hair on your arms, please enter the ancestral hall, worship the Buddha statue, and drink the water in front of the statue Rule Two: Inside the ancestral hall, the Buddha statue cannot be damaged Rule Three: There is a man-eating monster in the ancestral hall Rule Four: The ancestral hall is safe Enter the ancestral hall! Lu Yang made a quick decision and entered the ancestral hall. The third and fourth rules of the ancestral hall seemed contradictory, one of them must be false, but thats not actually the case. Based on Lu Yangs understanding of the rules over the past few days, the rules are all true, thus there must be a self-consistent exnation for these two rulesthe ancestral hall does have a monster, but the monster cannot eat people inside the hall. Therefore, entering the ancestral hall is the safest option! The two rushed into the ancestral hall and finally saw the town chiefs form, a type of monster they had never seen before. The town chief was half human, half beast, with a body as tall as a two-story building. The upper body was not much different from a humans, except for an extra eye on the forehead and a mouth that split to the ears, resembling a python. The lower half of the town chiefs body was like a tall horse, but a horse doesnt have eight feet, and especially not human feet. Lu Yang also noticed a thick tail behind the town chief, gently touching the ground and raising dust. However, the light in the ancestral hall was too dim to see clearly which demon race the tail belonged to. There were no ancestral tablets ced in the hall, and a half-naked, eye-covering Buddha statue was ced in the center, mboyant and eerie. In front of the statue were three bowls of clear water, presumably the water mentioned in the first rule of the ancestral hall that could cure the transformation into a ck dog. The town chief looked down, somewhat surprised at the two who had barged in: You two are indeed not simple, making such quick judgments. It seems correct for me to personally deal with you. Its hard work for the town chief toe out personally. Why dont you go back? Meng Jingzhou was as mouthy as ever. The town chief no longer spoke. He had noticed Lu Yang and his group when they crashed their vehicle, but since Daoist Non-Speaker had the highest cultivation level and had left the town, and these two were younger with lower cultivation levels, the town chief had not bothered with them. Later, the town chief realized they had used the rules to deal with the innkeeper and began to take the two seriously, realizing they seemed very adept at using the rules, posing a threat. The town chief wanted to deal with them, but they wouldnt be easily fooled, so he decided to use their n against them. He could know everything that happened in Commoner Town, and the twos escape n written on paper couldnt escape his three eyes. Geniuses often have the problem of arrogance, believing no one can outwit them. The town chief used this mentality, allowing them toe up with a way to leave, indulging them in mocking the yamen, until thest moment, stealing the jade pendant, and thwarting their n in the ancestral hall. The two were very cautious and would not leave the inn at night. The town chief deliberately showed a w to lure them out. Now, it was time to close the! Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhous faces were very ugly. They were intelligent people and understood in an instant that all this was the town chiefs conspiracy. They had been careless! The town chief no longer spoke, and his tail moved as fast as lightning. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou hadnt reacted before being struck and stered against the wall. Fortunately, based on the rule that The ancestral hall is safe, they were not injured. Otherwise, just that one strike would have been enough to kill them on the spot! Their hearts sank. The gap in strength and speed between them was too great, and no method could bridge it. Not to mention the town chief was immortal; even if he could die, they could not harm him. The town chief knew he couldnt kill them inside the ancestral hall, so he simply pushed the two out! Outside the ancestral hall, he was invincible! The town chief charged at them with his huge body. Seeing the situation turning bad, without needing to discuss a strategy, they pped hands against each other, propelling each other away to dodge the town chiefs coordinated attack. You do have some skills, the town chief sneered, but he didnt take it seriously. Such small tricks could only be used once against him. Get behind him! Lu Yang shouted. The town chiefs body was toorge, making it difficult to turn around in the cramped ancestral hall. When the town chief turned around, he saw Meng Jingzhou lifting the Buddha statue and smashing it towards him. Inside the ancestral hall, the Buddha statue cannot be damaged An indestructible Buddha statue is the best weapon! Is this it? Facing the Buddha statue carved from a giant rock, the town chief was unmoved. He threw a punch at them, breaking the sound barrier, and creating a whirlwind in the narrow ancestral hall. What a tremendous force! As the fifth person of the Unity Stage, he chose to be the town chief not for fun. During his slumber, his body encountered problems, equivalent to physical death. After awakening, he only had his soul left. Topete for opportunities in the grand era, he took over the town chiefs body and used ancient cultivation methods to transform the town chiefs body into this form. Despite its ugly and bizarre appearance, as a cultivator, strength is everything. This form is his strongest state, which would surely make him stand out in the grand era! The punch was unstoppable. Lu Yang was directly blown away. He executed a standard tiger fist, imitating a tiger, and adjusted his body in time tond lightly, dissipating most of the force. Meng Jingzhou clung to the Buddha statue, ending up flying out of the ancestral hall with it. Dont let the Buddha statue hit the ground! If the statue breaks, youll die! Lu Yang shouted. Meng Jingzhou also realized the danger. What he was holding was not the hope to the outside world, but a talisman that could explode at any moment! Meng Jingzhou shouted, his muscles bulged, skin turned red, veins popped out, and he stomped his feet, using his arms to stabilize his body and the Buddha statue, preventing the statue from hitting the ground and being destroyed. Hurry back to the ancestral hall! Lu Yang shouted. Now that they were outside the ancestral hall, getting hit by the town chief meant death! Want toe in? The town chief sneered. The door of the ancestral hall was as tall as a two-story building, with the town chief perfectly blocking the entrance. With him there, these two little guys had no chance of entering the ancestral hall! Lets fight! Lu Yang charged towards the town chief, his steps agile, possibly slipping under the town chiefs body. How could the town chief not see Lu Yangs intention? He stepped forward with his front legs, aiming to crush this annoying fellow. But Lu Yang suddenly changed direction, causing the town chief to miss. I finally lured you out, Lu Yang revealed a sly smile. Seeing Lu Yangs smile, the town chief felt something was wrong. He suddenly looked up and saw Meng Jingzhou once again lifting the Buddha statue, throwing it at him! The Buddha statue shattered, and the chaotic passage to the outside world opened beneath the town chiefs feet. The passage, with bone-eroding fierce winds, blew towards the town chief, like thousands of knives cutting through the skin, ying flesh from bones, causing deep pain. The town chief screamed in agony. The town chief desperately tried to escape but was trapped by the chaotic passage, unable to leave. From the beginning of designing the passage, the ancient Unity Stagers had set it so that once someone stepped into the passage, death was certain, and no one could escape! Anyone trying to escape the town by breaking the Buddha statue only had death awaiting them! Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou on the side sneered: Entering the passage means certain death, and you are immortal. I really want to see whos rule is stronger, yours or the passages! From the beginning, they never intended to use the jade pendant to seek help from the Dao Seeking Sect. The jade pendant was just a decoy thrown to the town chief. (End of the chapter) Chapter 140: Talking about Possession in Front of Me, Yellow Bean? Chapter 140: Talking about Possession in Front of Me, Yellow Bean? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Rule 21 of Commoner TownIf you leave the town or kill the town chief, there is no need to abide by the rules of Commoner Town When the pharmacy owner exined the meaning of the twenty-first rule to Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, both of them thought of the same thing. Since its impossible to leave the town or kill the town chief, which of the two would be superior if they shed? Not knowing the answer, they decided to give it a try. Whether its the town chief leaving the town or killing the town chief, it would be advantageous for both of them. If the town chief leaves the town, Commoner Town would be their territory, and they could look for another way to leave, such as starting with the private teacher. Moreover, they didnt believe that the town chief leaving Commoner Town wouldnt shake the town in the slightest. If they could kill the town chief, that would be even better; they would directly clear the game. But getting the town chief to step into the pathway of leaving was not an easy task. They neither knew the location of the ancestral hall nor who the town chief was. No matter, stirring up trouble in Commoner Town would force the town chief to take action. Those who set the rules would not tolerate anyone breaking them, as it would be a direct p in the face, dering their rules full of loopholes. So, the two decided to exploit the rules to cause major disruptions in Commoner Town. Lu Yang first threw a smokescreen by fabricating the function of the jade pendant and deliberatelymunicated through paper, giving the impression that it was a secret method that shouldnt be revealed. Knowing that nothing in the town could escape the town chiefs eyes, how could Lu Yang possibly reveal or write down the method to clear the game? The town chief mocked Lu Yang and hispanion for their arrogance, not realizing he was also arrogant. He was sessfully deceived by Lu Yang, focusing all his attention on the jade pendant. Then, the two mocked the yamen three times, telling the town chief that his people were no match for them. If his subordinates were no match, the town chief would inevitably take matters into his own hands to deal with these two nuisances. The town chief thought that stealing the jade pendant would solve everything, waiting in the ancestral hall for them to fall into the trap, not realizing they had no intention of using the jade pendant. They wanted the town chief to appear in the ancestral hall. As for how Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou nned it, such a simple scheme didnt need discussion. What kind of helmsman of the demonic sect would he be if not cunning and full of tricks? Time returns to the present, at the entrance of the ancestral hall, the town chief is trapped in the bone-eroding gale. The Immortality Rule and Death Rule are battling, with his body constantly being damaged and restored, in so much pain he wished he could die on the spot. What the hell is this? Lu Yang observed the town chief, having never seen such a creature. This is beastification! Evesting Fairy spoke in Lu Yangs mind. Beastification? Lu Yang reviewed the knowledge of cultivation stored in his mind, finding no matching term. It seems to be a cultivation method from the ancient times, now lost. Evesting Fairy continued: During the ancient era, this cultivation method was popr for a while, using a human body to devour a demonic body. This way, one could have the advantages of both humans and demons, quite powerful. However, this method has a significant w: its impossible to be immortal. To be immortal, one needs a pure body. A body thats both human and demon cant condense the ariya-ph. Later, it gradually fell out of practice. Could the opponent be someone from the ancient era? Lu Yang wondered. Unlikely. People from the ancient era were aware of the ws of this cultivation method. Its more probable that someone from ater era discovered this method, knowing only its advantages and not its ws. Its normal to think that the older and more lost something is, the better it is. However, ancient things are not necessarily powerful, and if something is lost, theres always a reason for it. It could be that no one could practice it, or no one wanted to. One must objectively view the problem. Evesting Fairy shrugged, such urrences weremon in ancient times. Like how a youth identally enters an ancient relic, obtains an ancient cultivation method, and thinks he will be invincible in the future, not realizing that its precisely because the cultivation method is too ancient and thus imperfect, leading to aplete blockage of advancement at the Nascent Soul Stage. The cultivation methods have changed through countless generations and imed many lives before forming aplete path from qi cultivation to bing an immortal. Evesting Fairy, with her vast knowledge, casually mentioned many now-forgotten pieces of knowledge. The town chief stared at them intently. Being able to cultivate to the Unity Stage, he was naturally not foolish. After falling into the trap, he immediately understood the duos n. But it was toote. Eventually, the Immortality Rule was defeated by the Death Rule, and the town chiefs body vanished into nothingness. This oue was just as the two had predicted. Daoist Non-Speaker had mentioned from the beginning that rules couldnt be too defying, such as there being no Absolutely Invincible or Absolutely Immortal rules. The town chiefs Immortality Rule was not absolute. Die? I am the True Immortal of Defying Heaven, indestructible for all eternity, my true spirit unbreakable. How could I perish here? A ck soul leapt from the town chiefs body, appearing somewhat different from him. The town chief was just a vessel for the True Immortal of Defying Heaven, not his true form. Technically, with the town chiefs physical body dead, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou should have cleared the level. However, the True Immortal of Defying Heaven couldnt stand this humiliation. A mighty Unity Stage being, who had lived for thousands of years and outwitted countless foes, was tricked by two mere Foundation Stage cultivators. He couldnt bear it! Even if it meant breaking the rules and damaging his soul, he was determined to kill these two pests today. Hmm, youre a Sword Spirit Root? Without the limitations of a physical body, the True Immortal of Defying Heaven was more perceptive. He noticed that one of them had a Single Spirit Root and the other a Sword Spirit Root, both of top-notch quality, far superior to the town chief. The Sword Spirit Root excels in attack. If he could possess a body with a Sword Spirit Root, coupled with his Defying Heaven Secret Method, he could surpass his original self, break through his limits, and possibly reach the Tribtion Crossing Stage! His Defying Heaven Secret Method could challenge immortals at the peak of the Tribtion Crossing Stage, an invincible existence. Even if a great era arrives, who could contend with him? It seems this is an opportunity given by the heavens!ughed the True Immortal of Defying Heaven, surprised by such a significant gain, like finding a vige after a long night. He saw Lu Yangs body as something already in his grasp. What waves could a Foundation Stage cultivator make in front of a Unity Stage? He turned into a wisp of gray fog, entering Lu Yangs mental space, preparing to possess him. Lu Yang looked at the True Immortal of Defying Heaven in disbelief, his face filled with horror: You, as a Unity Stage being, dare to not follow your own rules and attempt to possess me?! The True Immortal of Defying Heaven scoffed disdainfully at Lu Yang, seeing him as just a child, unaware of the worlds true nature: Before you die, let me tell you a truth so you can die in peace. Whoever has the strongest power is right; this is an unchanging truth throughout the ages. When youre not qualified to provoke a Unity Stage being, you should tuck your tail and behave! Lu Yang sighed: Wouldnt it be nice if everyone followed the rules andpeted fairly? Since youre unwilling to y by the rules, dont me me for flipping the table. He moved aside to reveal the person behind him, making a weing gesture: Fairy, its up to you now. Then, the True Immortal of Defying Heaven saw Evesting Fairy, who was sitting with her legs crossed. Evesting Fairy looked down on the True Immortal of Defying Heaven, her lips curling into a faint smile, mocking and disdainful: Young man, you dare to talk about possession in front of this immortal? Youve got guts. Huh? The True Immortal of Defying Heaven was filled with questions. Why were there two people in the mental world? And why did the other person im to be an immortal? For some reason, he had a feeling that a great disaster was about to befall him. (End of the chapter) Chapter 141: The Might of an Immortal Chapter 141: The Might of an Immortal Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Inside the mental space, Evesting Fairy, with her legs elegantly crossed, nced at the True Immortal of Defying Heaven without much care. Her eyes slightly closed, her expression rxed, she stretched out her slender fingers, admiring them, not taking the True Immortal of Defying Heaven seriously at all. Who are you?! the True Immortal of Defying Heaven demanded loudly, though deep down, he felt uneasy. The mental space was supposed to contain only Lu Yang; it was against all reason for there to be two people. Moreover, when he tried to probe the cultivation level of thisx woman, he found he couldnt see through it at all. This meant that at the very least, she was on the same level as him. Why would she choose to stay in the mental space of someone at the Foundation Stage? Evesting Fairy yawned with utter boredom, showing no intention of acknowledging the True Immortal of Defying Heaven. Enraged, the True Immortal of Defying Heaven, a fellow Unity Stage cultivator, could not ept being treated with such disdain. Since she wasnt even interested in talking, he decided to prove his point with action! The True Immortal of Defying Heaven condensed his spirit and energy into a domineering de. Standing firmly, he seemed like two dragons coiling around pirs, rooting deeply and transmitting power upwards. His soul body crackled like the opening of a valve of power, unleashing all his strength! He concentrated all his power into the domineering de, its de light blinding, impossible to look at directly! A colossal Bull Demon shadow filled the entire mental space, with red eyes and bulging muscles, an immense force, clearly a renowned demonic beast from ancient times! As the domineering de shed down, it felt as if the power of the seas and mountains were being brought down upon Evesting Fairy, a force so immense it seemed capable of obliterating everything in existence. This was the True Immortal of Defying Heavens signature move, capable of destroying any obstacle in his path! Bull Demon King de! The Bull Demon shadow moved as well, charging at Evesting Fairy. The True Immortal of Defying Heaven intended to crush her with relentless force, showing her the disparity between them and what it means to respect the strong! Facing the True Immortal of Defying Heavens full-force attack, Evesting Fairy didnt even bother to lift her eyelids, merely uttering two words lightly. Noisy. Spoken carelessly, without a trace of mundanity, yet they weighed heavily like mountains, pressing down on the True Immortal of Defying Heaven. The True Immortal of Defying Heaven felt an inexplicable divine force descending from the heavens, a force so brute and unreasonable, pressing down on him, leaving him with no possibility of resistance. Under the pressure of the word Noisy, the Bull Demon shadow dissipated, the domineering de forged from spirit and energy vanished, and all phenomena evaporated like mist. With a thud, the True Immortal of Defying Heaven fell to his knees, unable to even lift his fingers. He was terrified inside. The opponents powerpletely surpassed hisprehension; this was definitely not a force a Unity Stage could wield! Was it Tribtion Crossing, or perhaps an even higher level the True Immortal of Defying Heaven dared not continue the thought. He distinctly remembered, this person referred to herself as this immortal. The gap between Unity Stage and Tribtion Crossing Stage was an insurmountable chasm, impossible to bridge by any means, making the two realms as different as earth and sky, leaving the True Immortal of Defying Heaven powerless to resist. And the gap to even higher realms was beyond his imagination. Esteemed predecessor, there might have been some misunderstanding between us The True Immortal of Defying Heaven put on a ttering smile, trying his best to exin himself to Evesting Fairy. Being able to reach the Unity Stage in ancient times naturally meant one could be flexible. Finally, Evesting Fairy lifted her eyelids slightly, her gaze falling on the True Immortal of Defying Heaven kneeling in submission on the ground, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed. Who allowed you to look directly at this immortal? Another divine force pressed down on the True Immortal of Defying Heavens head, making him lose all will to resist. The True Immortal of Defying Heaven felt bitter inside. He originally thought Lu Yang was a reward from the heavens for himself, only to discover upon attempting possession that he was the reward given to Lu Yang by the heavens. Why was there such a powerful existence in the mental space of someone at the Foundation Stage? Now, this immortal allows you to exin the situation, Evesting Fairy said indifferently. The True Immortal of Defying Heaven dared not conceal anything, aware that some great beings have the ability to discern truth from lies. He didnt dare to gamble on whether the formidable figure before him possessed such a capability. My Daoist title is True Immortal of Defying Heaven. Outside Commoner Town, there are four Unity Stage beings like me. All five of us are contemporaries from the Great Yu Dynasty. We were all stuck at the Unity Stage due to limited talents, unable to make any progress toward the Tribtion Crossing Stage, which seemed unattainable for us. At that time, we heard a rumor, though its origin was unclear. The rumor imed that the spiritual essence of the world was dormant, making cultivation extremely difficult. However, in over a hundred thousand years, the spiritual essence would gradually awaken, heralding an era simr to the ancient prosperous times, where various opportunities for bing an immortal would emerge. Some said the rumor came from the royal pce, others said it was calcted by the national teacher, and still others imed it was an insight obtained by the Imperial Observatory from observing the sun. In short, there were various theories. The five of us decided that since we couldnt reach the Tribtion Crossing Stage anyway, instead of living leisurely in the Great Yu Dynasty, it would be better to seal ourselves with spirit stone marrow and wait quietly for the world to be vibrant again. Even if the rumor turned out to be false, we wouldnt lose much. Five Unity Stage beings would be a force to be reckoned with in any era or ce. The five of us awakened beneath Commoner Town and were pleasantly surprised to find that our stagnant cultivation levels showed signs of loosening. Indeed, the current era is more conducive to cultivation than our time. We still needed some time to fully awaken and didnt want to be discovered by the cultivators of this era, so we collectively established the rules of Commoner Town to recover our strength while gathering information. I was the most unfortunate. There was a problem with the spirit stone marrow that sealed me; my physical body died over time, but the spirit stone marrow only sealed my soul. After awakening, I possessed the person with the best talent nearby. My body was frail and prone to idents, so to protect myself, the five of us agreed that it would be most appropriate for me to be the town chief of Commoner Town. In this way, I became an undying existence, consuming mortals and wild beasts to elerate my cultivation and quickly master the Defying Heaven Secret Method.'' (TL Note: Undying and Evesting have subtle differences) The True Immortal of Defying Heaven confessed everything from below, not daring to lift his head and unaware of Evesting Fairys small gestures. Evesting Fairy winked at Lu Yang and excitedly wiggled her toes, meaning to say, See, I can be reliable too. You should respect me more from now on. Since her revival, Evesting Fairy had been constantly humbled, first suppressed by Eldest Senior Sister and then failing to showcase her strengths to Lu Yang. Now that she finally had a chance to prove herself, how could she not seize it? Lu Yang sighed silently. Immortal, how can I see you as reliable with this behavior? Evesting Fairy felt that Lu Yangs gaze didnt seem very respectful toward her. Pouting, she decided to ignore Lu Yang. After all, she believed she had already proven herself to be very reliable. (End of the chapter) Chapter 142: Successfully Leaving Commoner Town Chapter 142: Sessfully Leaving Commoner Town Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The Defying Heaven Secret Method? Evesting Fairy narrowed her eyes; she had never heard of a secret method with such an arrogant name before. Immortals are the pinnacle of the cultivation path, and its impossible to challenge them beyond ones level. If immortals could be defeated in reverse, what would be the point of bing one? Yes, yes, the True Immortal of Defying Heaven said submissively, offering the Defying Heaven Secret Method. His Daoist title also originated from this. When I was young, I stumbled upon a secret realm created by an ancient power. It was filled with countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and it was with these that I was able to cultivate to the Unity Stage. The True Immortal of Defying Heaven continued, The most precious thing in the secret realm was this Defying Heaven Secret Method. ording to the description in the book, immortals are the kings of all beings, possessing unmatched power. To defeat an immortal, one must take a different approach. The book mentions that if one couldbine the best traits of all beings the transformation abilities of the Kunpeng, the water control abilities of the dragon n, the fire control abilities of the phoenix n, the wisdom of humans having all these advantages, one could defy an immortal with mortal strength! Evesting Fairy flipped through the secret method and tossed it to Lu Yang, I thought it was something significant. All this fuss for beast transformation cultivation. Evesting Fairy had just introduced the beast transformation cultivation method, which had mixed bloodlines, making it impossible to be an immortal and was abandoned by the people of the ancient era. As for the supposed power to defy immortals mentioned in the secret method, Evesting Fairy scoffed even more. If it was as incredible as boasted, would it have been discarded? Does that mean everything said here is false? Lu Yang flipped through the contents, which were tooplex for him to understand at a nce. Evesting Fairy scratched her chin, I guess the person who created the beast transformation cultivation method couldnt ept its rejection. But back in ancient times, everyone knew what this cultivation method entailed and how unreliable it was; no one would be fooled. So, they just changed the cover, added a few prefaces, renamed it, and threw it into a cave heaven. Over time, as fewer people knew about the beast transformation method, they let some fool discover it, believe its contents, and thus, the beast transformation cultivation method was passed down. Evesting Fairy disdainfully said, Bluffing, who cant do that? I could even im I can beat Yun Zhi. Lu Yang suspected Evesting Fairy of being deliberately ck. She continued educating Lu Yang, Dont think everything written in some ancient tome is true. Back in our day, forgery was rampant; there were more fakes than real things. We even made up a whole celestial hierarchy system, iming that upon bing immortal, one ascends to the immortal realm, which has human immortals, earth immortals, celestial immortals, and so on, including the Five Directional Celestial Emperors. It was all very detailed. If youe across it, dont believe any of it; it was all just made up for fun. Lu Yang: Verifying what happened in ancient times is difficult enough without you guys fabricating things. Lu Yang felt pity for those old cultivators who loved researching the ancient era. They spent a lot of effort studying what happened back then, impressed by how magnificent the ancient era seemed, with levels above immortals, endless paths of cultivation, and thinking how much the present fell shortpared to the ancient times. To then find out it was all just made up for fun. Could the hearts of those old cultivators take it? Fortunately, so far, Lu Yang hadnt heard about the celestial hierarchy system; it probably disappeared in the river of time, luckily not poisoning future generations. The True Immortal of Defying Heaven shivered on the ground, listening to Evesting Fairys casual talk, feeling as if he had stumbled upon incredible secrets. With ancient events at her fingertips and her self-referential this immortal, there was no longer any need to doubt his luck. And this Foundation Stage kid, though of low realm, couldmunicate with an ancient immortal as equals. Could he also be an ancient immortal? Reincarnation or possession? The True Immortal of Defying Heaven wished he could p himself twice. What was he thinking with a name like Defying Heaven, blindly barging into the mental space. Was he tired of living? The True Immortal of Defying Heaven cautiously retreated. He felt the pressure lessening, indicating that Evesting Fairy was not focusing on him. He wanted to take the opportunity while the two were chatting to slip out of the mental space and escape. Then he discovered the mental space was as sealed as a coffin, impossible to escape. Evesting Fairy sneered. Lu Yangs mental space was essentially her home. How could one simplye and go from an immortals home as they please? Want to leave? Then leave your life behind. Evesting Fairy detested the True Immortal of Defying Heavens method of cultivation. At the dawn of the rules, countlessmoners died under them. And looking at the town chiefs physical body, it was the result of killing hundreds, if not thousands, of people. As an immortal of the human race, Evesting Fairy couldnt im to be grandiose or to have protected countless humans, but she could say she had never harmed anyone. It was time to kill. Evesting Fairy extended a finger. The True Immortal of Defying Heaven desperately moved his body, trying to dodge her finger, but no matter how he moved, he couldnt escape. It was an unavoidable finger! The finger touched his brow, and the True Immortal of Defying Heavens soul shattered. This person is difficult to deal with! Outside Commoner Town, the four Unity Stage cultivators found Daoist Non-Speaker challenging. They had finally identified the sword that merged with Daoist Non-Speaker from thousands, hoping for a fair fight. Yet, Daoist Non-Speaker once again executed his technique, merging with the sword and turning one into thousands. Was such a move repeatable?! If you dont show yourself, well go to Commoner Town and kill those two youngsters! one of the Unity Stage cultivators shouted in anger. This was not a threat; they were capable of such actions. Suddenly, thousands of swords formed arge sphere, tips pointing inward, enclosing the four. The swords struck at once, catching the four by surprise and causing them harm. Daoist Non-Speaker revealed his true form, holding his life-bound sword, staring intently at the four, I dare anyone to harm them! Confronted with Daoist Non-Speakers gaze, the four felt a chilling presence. Fighting a supreme sword cultivator to the death meant at least two of them would fall. One of them sneered, Bluffing. The town chief of Commoner Town is ourpanion. Do you really think those juniors can be safe just by following the rules? Once ourpanion uses those juniors as hostages, Id like to see what youll do. Will you risk the juniors lives to kill us, or will you drop your sword and let us kill you obediently? Daoist Non-Speaker clenched his teeth, gripping his sword handle tightly. If things turned out as they said, he was prepared to risk his lifespan and cultivation to kill the four before anything happened! As they stood off, a teleportation array appeared outside Commoner Town. The four Unity Stage cultivators were about to provoke Daoist Non-Speaker, iming his juniors had been captured, when their expressions drastically changed, and they spat out blood. How is it possible? Someone used the rules to leave Commoner Town?! Leaving Commoner Town through the rules meant they would suffer bacsh. The teleportation array vanished, and Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou sessfully left Commoner Town. Lu Yang, holding the town chiefs head, smiled and waved at the figures above, his provocative intent unmistakable. Pui The four Unity Stage cultivators spat blood again. (End of the chapter) Chapter 143: Lu Yang, Who Is Still in the Phase of Fantasy Chapter 143: Lu Yang, Who Is Still in the Phase of Fantasy Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Including Daoist Non-Speaker, none of the five had anticipated that Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou could sessfully leave the town. Not to mention the presence of a Unity Stage being stationed in Commoner Town, just the towns explicit and implicit rules are not something ordinary people could understand. Surviving in Commoner Town is already a difficult feat, let alone leaving. How did these two manage it? Daoist Non-Speaker didnt ponder further. Seizing the moment when the four Unity Stage beings were weakened from vomiting blood and their attention shifted to Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, he suddenly exerted his power. Surrounded by azure sword qi, light and flowing like a pool of clear water, his sword qi moved as agilely as a snake, tracing a beautiful curve in the air. Two heads flew horizontally. Evesting Fairy remarked, Your master is truly capable, enough topete with the top sword cultivators of our era. This sword strike has severed both the physical bodies and the souls,pletely killing two Unity Stage beings. Lu Yang was amazed. To take on four opponents alone and kill two unexpectedly, the master is indeed worthy of respect. Both Evesting Fairy and Daoist Non-Speakers initial appearances were rather poor, one being suppressed and the other locked in a cave for ten years, leading Lu Yang to subconsciously overlook their status. One is an ancient immortal, one of the five who became immortals during the chaotic ancient times, among the strongest five. The other is the sect leader of one of the five great immortal sects, who would be received with the highest courtesy by the emperor himself, the youngest and thetest to cultivate among the Dao Seeking Sects Nine, yet with the highestbat strength. Ordinary cultivators gaining even a slight connection with either would rise to great heights, enjoying a worry-free life. Yet, Lu Yang didnt feel this way at all. Is it really because Eldest Senior Sister is around? Lu Yang felt he had pinpointed the reason. Their initial debuts went poorly because of Eldest Senior Sister. Now that Eldest Senior Sister was not around, they finally had a chance to show their true capabilities. Daoist Non-Speaker, brimming with energy, seemed poised tounch another strike. The remaining two, sensing danger and not bothering to carry theirrades corpses, turned to flee. Daoist Non-Speaker did not pursue further. While he could indeedunch another strike, the two had their guards up and might withstand it. If they did, and then counterattacked, he himself wasnt afraid of another fight, but Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou couldnt withstand the aftermath of Unity Stage beings shing. Are you two alright? Daoist Non-Speaker hurried down to check on them and found that they were uninjured, seemingly having a good time in Commoner Town the past few days. Were fine. Both waved their hands, feeling the aura around them, and couldnt help but sigh. Sessfully leaving Commoner Town and being able to manipte spiritual power again felt great. In Commoner Town, where they couldnt use spells, their talents were somewhat restrained. Thats good, thats good. Daoist Non-Speaker breathed a sigh of relief, Its just that those two got away. Speaking of which, wasnt there a Unity Stage in Commoner Town? How did you deal with him? Daoist Non-Speaker looked at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou curiously, thinking perhaps Little Yun gave Lu Yang a life-saving method, or the Meng family provided Meng Jingzhou with one. Trusting Daoist Non-Speaker, Lu Yang exined, Actually, I have an ancient immortal sealed within me. Usually, it guides my cultivation, and in critical moments, it can lend me power, making killing a Unity Stage not out of the question. Daoist Non-Speaker looked at Lu Yang with a sympathetic gaze, patting his head, then considering his age, he understood. Right, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old kid is still in the phase of fantasy. When he was sixteen, he too fantasized about having an ancient fierce beast sealed within him, which would loosen its seal if others angered him, leaking out the beasts energy and inadvertently harming innocents. In severe cases, it could lead to catastrophic destruction, so to keep the fierce beast sealed, he had to maintain a cold demeanor at all times. Who hasnt gone through that phase? An ancient immortal? In his two thousand years of life, Daoist Non-Speaker had never encountered an ancient immortal. And now, Lu Yang, this kid, was not only lucky enough to meet an ancient immortal, but this immortal was also residing within him? It must be a life-saving measure left for Lu Yang by Little Yun. Is the ancient immortal you mentioned an old man or a beauty? Daoist Non-Speaker asked. Thinking of Evesting Fairys appearance, who indeed was as stunning as Eldest Senior Sister when she was calm, Lu Yang said, A beauty. Daoist Non-Speaker thought to himself that it made sense. At this age, the immortals one fantasizes about are either old men or beauties, definitely not young men, middle-aged men, or old women. (TL Note: Its amon trope in cultivation novels for a strong and knowledgeable old grandpa carried around with the main character who guides him throughout his cultivation) He looked at Commoner Town, still enveloped by its rules, paused for a moment, and then said, Lets go to the nearby government office first and hand over the follow-up matters to them. There were too many civilians in Commoner Town. Although he was supremely skilled in cultivation, when it came to situations that couldnt be resolved by cultivation alone, it was best to leave them to the professionals. The matter of Commoner Town involved five ancient Unity Stage beings, which was beyond the jurisdiction of a county governor. Thus, Daoist Non-Speaker needed to find the regional inspector responsible for this state. The Great Xia Dynasty had divided the central continent into seventeen regions, also known as the seventeen states. Below the states were counties, and below the counties were towns. Knowing he was unfamiliar with the area, Daoist Non-Speaker went to the nearby county to inquire about their location and learned that they were in Qingzhou, part of the central continents western region. Wait, why are we in the western part of the continent? Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou looked at Daoist Non-Speaker suspiciously. Didnt they say they were flying south when they left the Dao Seeking Sect? Daoist Non-Speakerughed it off without exining too much, just telling the two to follow him. After asking around and locating their position, the trio finally found the inspector of Qingzhou. Upon hearing that the sect master of Dao Seeking Sect hade to visit, the inspector of Qingzhou immediately dropped all his duties to personally wee Daoist Non-Speaker. As the inspector of Qingzhou, controlling countless resources of the state and revered and ttered by many, he was still far inferior to Daoist Non-Speaker in terms of status and cultivation. Daoist Non-Speaker got straight to the point, exining the situation in Commoner Town. When it came to specific details, he let Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou fill in. Upon hearing what had happened in Commoner Town, the inspector of Qingzhou broke into a cold sweat. Thankfully, the sect master of Dao Seeking Sect had discovered and handled the situation promptly. Had those five ancient Unity Stage beings fully awakened and hidden somewhere in the dynasty, they could have destroyed several counties at any moment, killing countless people. The inspector of Qingzhou immediately decided to mobilize local Spirit Transformation Stage and Unity Stage enforcers, write to the stationed troops in Qingzhou and the imperial court, informing them that two ancient Unity Stage beings had awakened and escaped, and to remain vignt. As for reporting to the imperial court tomend Dao Seeking Sect, he couldnt spare the time just yet. He decided to address the civilians situation in Commoner Town first. Lu Yang noticed that the inspector of Qingzhou didnt mobilize any Void Refinement Stage cultivators. Daoist Non-Speaker exined, The Void Refinement Stage is a very special phase. Cultivators in this stage have very unstable strengths, fluctuating between high and low. At their peak, they can reach the pinnacle of the Unity Stage, but at their lowest, theyre only as strong as the Qi Cultivation Stage. Thus, Void Refinement Stage cultivators choose to stay in one ce, seldom taking action. And no one would easily provoke a Void Refinement Stage cultivator, after all, you never know what realm the opponent might reach in the next moment. (End of the chapter) Chapter 144: So You Were Restrained When I Was Around? Chapter 144: So You Were Restrained When I Was Around? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The inspector of Qingzhou, leading the enforcers of Qingzhou in a grand procession to Commoner Town, threw down his inspectors seal, causing the rules enveloping the town to disintegrate into intangible fragments and gradually copse. This was not his own power, but the authority granted to him by the Great Xia Dynasty, allowing him to mobilize a small part of the power of humanity. The group of cultivators, not their first time handling such matters, easily dealt with the towns explicit and hidden rules. Whether it was not being able to make eye contact with the private tutor, the danger in the thatched cottages during the day, all became a joke. They captured the private tutor, dragged out the shadows hiding in the thatched cottages, checked how many were living corpses and how many were alive, researched if those transformed into ck dogs could be reverted everything was progressing in an orderly manner. Evesting Fairy had never seen such a scene before. In the ancient era, there was no concept of a nation, and the system built around ns did not have such clear division ofbor and organized structure. ording to Daoist Non-Speaker, this was just the power of one dynasty. If the dynasty were to unite with the five great immortal sects for a joint operation, they could easily overpower ancient cultivators. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou found the innkeeper who had been rescued. Seeing them, the innkeeper cried tears of joy, never expecting the two to actually solve the problem, and in such a short amount of time at that. He should not have doubted Lu Yang and the others were demon cultivators. The Qingzhou enforcers also discovered that the pharmacy owner was an undercover agent for the town chief, with evidence of countless harms done. Under the restrictions of the rules, what the pharmacy owner seemed to say truthfully, was actually all deceptive, misleading many. The pharmacy apprentice, the private tutor, the yamen officers, and the meat bun shop owner these people were all detained, waiting for the truth to be rified before deciding their fate. On-site, the inspector of Qingzhou wrote a memorial to report the matter to the court, but Daoist Non-Speaker stopped him, asking the inspector to omit the names of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, though the rewards due were still granted. Daoist Non-Speaker then took the two promising juniors to the most bustling restaurant in Qingzhou for a meal. Ha ha, its finally over! Although our trip encountered a little, minor hup, it was ultimately a small matter. After weve had our fill, Ill take you to experience the prosperity of the southern part of the continent. This time, with your Eldest Senior Sister not around, the three of us will let loose and have fun, dont worry, Ill cover for anything that happens! Daoist Non-Speakerughed heartily, with the aftermath being handled by the government, he had nothing more to do. Finally able to get out, he naturally wanted to let loose. Oh? So you were restrained when I was around? A cold voice made Daoist Non-Speakersughtere to an abrupt halt. Only then did Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou realize that the once bustling restaurant had quieted down, with only their table having anyughter. Now, all three of them stopped talking, and the entire restaurant was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. The guests had long noticed when a stunningly beautiful woman entered the restaurant, drawing all eyes to her the moment she appeared. They were amazed by her beauty and aura, subconsciously shutting their mouths, not daring to breathe too loudly, fearing the woman would notice them. The woman chose a table and sat down quietly, watching the carefree master and disciples. No one could see that the woman was also holding two chains in her hands, binding two soul bodies. Finally, the woman spoke, and only then did the master and disciples notice her. Oh, its Little Yun,e, sit down and join us, Daoist Non-Speaker forced a smile. Eldest Senior Sister, hello, Lu Yang and the others greeted her respectfully. Daoist Non-Speaker looked surprised at the two chains in Yun Zhis hands, recognizing the bound individuals as the escaped Unity Stage beings. Little Yun, when did you find us? Since the first time you performed the sword technique that turns one sword into ten thousand and merged with the sword. Daoist Non-Speaker broke out in a cold sweat; that was a day ago, no wonder Little Yun was able to capture those two. He calmly thought about it, realizing he hadnt bad-mouthed Little Yun at all during the day. That was a relief. The two captured Unity Stage cultivators looked at Yun Zhi in horror. Just a gentle palm strike from afar had sent their souls flying. What kind of realm did this power belong to? Why did they keep running into such monsters?! What happened to the promised reemergence of ancient times andnds filled with opportunities? Where were the opportunities in thisnd filled with danger?! I was just worried that you, Master, might get lost and lead the two astray. I didnt expect you to have so much fun without me, Yun Zhi said evenly, her tone sending shivers down the trios spine. Meng Jingzhou was the quickest to react, pointing at Lu Yang: Its all Lu Yangs fault. I didnt want toe at all; it was Lu Yang who dragged me here. Lu Yang promptly pointed at Daoist Non-Speaker: Its all Masters fault. He said he needed to fulfill his responsibilities as a master by taking me out to see the world! Daoist Non-Speaker pointed at Meng Jingzhou: It was this kids grandfather who asked me to look after his grandson, thats why I took them out for some fun! Daoist Non-Speakers rich experience in causing trouble told him that ming someone not present was the wisest choice. Yun Zhis icy gaze swept over the three: Master, you continue to spread the glorious deeds of our Dao Seeking Sect outside. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, you twoe back with me. Yun Zhi was worried that Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou would pick up their masters bad habits. Before taking the two away, Yun Zhi told Daoist Non-Speaker, On your way, tell the inspector of Qingzhou that Ive captured the people, no need to be so tense anymore. Yun Zhi intended to bring the two Unity Stage captives back, hoping to extract some useful information from them. On the way back, Lu Yang tried to im credit with Eldest Senior Sister, asking if he could receive contribution points for killing a Unity Stage. Yun Zhi wondered, Wasnt it Yellow Bean who killed the Unity Stage? Hearing this, Evesting Fairy, no longer caring that Yun Zhi was calling her by her name directly, excitedly asked, Can I get contribution points then? As you are not a member of our Dao Seeking Sect, naturally, you cannot. Without a second thought, Evesting Fairy dered, Then Ill join the Dao Seeking Sect. Lu Yang looked at Evesting Fairy in surprise. Joining just like that, what about the dignity of being an immortal? Yun Zhi nodded, An immortal joining Dao Seeking Sect is certainly permissible. I can specially appoint you as the first guest elder of Dao Seeking Sect. However, only I will know of your status. ordingly, you will receive the contribution points for this asion as well as the provisions of an elder. If you agree to these terms, then you can join. Ill join. Evesting Fairy quite liked the atmosphere of Dao Seeking Sect; it matched her personality, a rarepatibility. Yun Zhi also brought up another matter, speaking to Lu Yang, A few days ago, the master of Moon Laurel Immortal Pce approached me, saying they wanted topensate you to Lan Ting. I think youre at the age for discussing marriage. Dao Seeking Sect and Moon Laurel Immortal Pce are well-matched, so I agreed to you two bing daopanions. But somehow, the master of Moon Laurel Immortal Pce changed their mind. Do you have any idea why? Could it be that they found you not impressive enough? Lu Yang was utterly confused. (End of the chapter) Chapter 145: The Strongest of the Five Great Immortal Sects Chapter 145: The Strongest of the Five Great Immortal Sects Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Meng Jingzhou patted Lu Yangs shoulder and said, Youve finally also be excellent enough for someone toe asking for your hand in marriage. Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou, Also? Meng Jingzhou proudly said, Since I was young, royal rtives, powerful ministers, and people from reputable sects havee to my house to propose marriage, treating their daughters as if they were not their own, to be my fiance. Its just that my parents and the n elders have always been extremely firm in their refusal; otherwise, I would be Lu Yang cut in, Otherwise, youd be suffering from kidney deficiency? Meng Jingzhou angrily said, I would be a charming young master! The two wrestled, using the Tiger Fist technique, causing howls to echo from the clouds. Yun Zhi concentrated on flying, ignoring them. Lu Yang transformed into a tiger demon, pinning Meng Jingzhou down with one w, making Meng Jingzhou beg for mercy. Ultimately, Meng Jingzhous Tiger Fist was no match for Lu Yangs true tiger form. After the fight, Lu Yang still couldnt understand, had the excellent qualities he disyed in Yanjiang County really reached the level where people woulde to propose marriage? And proposing marriage, the womans side changing their mind, having a powerful soul inside, why did these elements feel so familiar? (TL Note: Common trope seen in chinese cultivation novels such as Battle Through the Heavens or Against the Gods) In the Great Xia Dynasty, the imperial city, the pce. Above the hall, a dignified man dressed in ck with golden patterns sat in a high position, serious and without smiles. The ministers below shouted long live, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and gravity. Let my dear ministers rise. Thank you, Your Majesty. The Emperor Xia scanned the ministers and took out a newly received memorial: I have just received a memorial from the governor of Qingzhou, saying that a ce called Commoner Town in Qingzhou has seen the revival of five ancient Unity Stage beings, forming domains. The master of the Dao Seeking Sect happened to pass by and took his two disciples to kill three of the Unity Stage beings. As these words were spoken, the ministers sighed in relief. The revival of five Unity Stage beings was no small matter; fortunately, Daoist Non-Speaker encountered them. If it were another Unity Stage being, they would have directly fallen at Commoner Town. Although Daoist Non-Speakers reputation was not very good, having tricked many when they were young, his strength was undoubtedly top-notch among Unity Stage beings. But there are still two Unity Stage beings who have escaped, and both are at the peak of Unity Stage, Emperor Xia reminded the ministers, pinpointing the crux of the matter. Emperor Xia did not expect them to abide by the rules. The ancient cultivation methods were very crude, treating human lives as worthless. This group of revived beings came for the great opportunities of the era, stopping at nothing. The Great Xia Dynasty had already learned from such experiences. The ministers whispered among themselves. If the two Unity Stage beings showed themselves, there was nothing to fear, as there were plenty of people in the court capable of dealing with them. The concern was if those two hid away, plotting something in the dark. It would be even more troublesome if they colluded with the demonic sects. These ancient Unity Stage beings! Emperor Xia was quite troubled. The spiritual essence of heaven and earth was bing more active, with more and more ancient cultivators awakening. This group of Unity Stage beings was a huge problem. If left unchecked, they could cause immense disasters, resulting in countless casualties among the popce. The good news was that, so far, no Tribtion Crossing Stage cultivators had awakened. Based on the intelligence collected so far, those who awakened earlier were at the initial stages of Unity. Theter the awakening, the higher their cultivation level. The ones who awoke in Commoner Town were four at the peak of Unity Stage and one at thete stage of Unity Stage. It could be anticipated that soon, Tribtion Crossing Stage cultivators would awaken. By then, the troubles from the eastern ocean, the Western Golden Buddhist Kingdom, the southern demon realm, the far north, and the four major demonic sects would erupt simultaneously. The reign of the Great Xia Dynasty would inevitably be on the brink of copse, and the rumors that each dynasty onlysts for a hundred thousand years might be a reality. Its all for the sake of bing immortals! Emperor Xias eyes turned cold, knowing many secrets. All the chaos was orchestrated by someone in the shadows, wanting more immortals, or ariya-ph, to emerge. Emperor Xia suspected it was the doing of an ancient nameless figure, one of the ancient five immortals. Is bing an immortal that important! Emperor Xia was furious inside but did not show it. If the person behind the scenes really thought the Great Xia Dynasty was just a pawn to be manipted, they were gravely mistaken. Emperor Xia stopped thinking about the ancient nameless figure and turned his attention back to the two escaped Unity Stage beings. At this moment, the chief eunuch received a memorial and hurriedly presented it to Emperor Xia. After reading it, Emperor Xias face lit up with joy: Good, very good! The ministers were puzzled, not knowing what was written in the memorial that made the emperor so happy. We dont need to worry about those two Unity Stage beings anymore! Yun Zhi of the Dao Seeking Sect has already captured them! Yun Zhi? Some less informed ministers were puzzled, not knowing who Yun Zhi was. Among the eight elders of the Dao Seeking Sect, there seemed to be none named Yun Zhi. The more informed old ministers knew of Yun Zhis identity and terrifying capabilities, understanding that capturing two Unity Stage beings was not a difficult task for her. The Demon Realm has sent an envoy Emperor Xia and the ministers began discussing other matters. After the court session, Emperor Xia returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to review new memorials. Your Majesty, Duke Jingyan of Qin has something to report, the chief eunuch whispered. Emperor Xia did not look up: Let him in. After Duke Jingyan of Qin entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he saw Emperor Xia busy reviewing memorials and remained silent, standing respectfully until the emperor finished with the most important ones before he spoke up. What does Duke Jingyan of Qin wish to discuss? Emperor Xias expression was solemn as he looked at the duke, who dared not meet his eyes directly. Your Majesty, I believe we cannot be too cautious with the Dao Seeking Sect. Yun Zhi of the Dao Seeking Sect, once a disciple, defeated the masters of the Five Great Immortal Sects, creating an unprecedented record. Since then, she has been rarely seen in action, but every time she makes a move, it shocks everyone. In these hundreds of years, her cultivation must have reached a terrifying level. Im concerned that her presence could shake the foundation of the dynasty. After all, the Dao Seeking Sect was established during the Da Yu era, having experienced the division of the realm and the founding of the Great Xia. Its possible they harbor ambitions to rece us. This is not just my personal opinion. On my way to court, I even heard a servant singing With the Dao thriving, the world is at peace.'' Emperor Xia frowned. Seeing this, Duke Jingyan of Qin knew the emperor had begun to doubt the Dao Seeking Sect and did not say more, taking his leave. Emperor Xia called the chief eunuch: Check who Duke Jingyan of Qin has met recently, especially his dealings with the Demon Realm. Yes. Emperor Xia sneered inwardly, seeing that not everyone in the court stood with the Great Xia. Creating a rift between me and the Dao Seeking Sect, what a clever idea. After his ession to the throne, Emperor Xia visited each of the Five Great Immortal Sects. During his visit to the Dao Seeking Sect, he met Yun Zhi and was astonished by her, feeling she was unfathomable. Despite his efforts to investigate, he could not discern Yun Zhis background and directly went to the imperial forbidden area to ask his ancestors if they knew of a female cultivator named Yun Zhi in the Dao Seeking Sect. The ancestor was silent for a long time before replying with only one sentence: The strongest of the Five Great Immortal Sects. Not satisfied, Emperor Xia persisted, How does shepare to you, ancestor? Dont ask anymore. Emperor Xia was kicked out by the ancestor, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. (End of the chapter) Chapter 146: The Heart of a Child Chapter 146: The Heart of a Child Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Since then, Emperor Xia knew that bing enemies with the Dao Seeking Sect was indeed fulfilling the curse of a hundred thousand years. Those lurking in the shadows thought of Yun Zhi as highly talented and very strong, yet they had no clear concept of how strong Yun Zhi actually was. If they knew the extent of Yun Zhis strength, they would realize how foolish their scheme to drive a wedge was. Eldest Senior Sister, where are we going? Lu Yang saw that after flying to the Dao Seeking Sect, Eldest Senior Sister did not stop at Heavens Gate Peak but continued forward. Lu Yang had never stepped foot here before; beneath them were vast mountains and swamps, thousands of miles of rednds, and vast deserts. Prison Peak. Neither Lu Yang nor Meng Jingzhou had heard of this ce. Eldest Senior Sister flew over these areas andnded on a gloomy mountain peak wrapped in huge chains. The other ends of the chains were wrapped around four mountains in different directions. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou felt their hairs stand on end, sensing that this ce was not friendly. Lu Yang had learned a bit about Feng Shui and formations. Feng Shui emphasizes flow, with at least one direction connecting to the outside world in the east, south, west, and north, representing vitality. However, Prison Peak was surrounded by mountains on all sides, blocking all vitality, and the clouds clinging to Prison Peak seemed like a lid, sealing the area tightly. Prison Peak was used for detaining and interrogating prisoners. The threended, and Yun Zhi opened the formations entrance, dragging two Unity Stage souls, entering from the foot of the mountain and going down about five thousand meters before stopping. The prisoners were all detained below Prison Peak. Arriving at Prison Peak, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou felt as if they were back in Commoner Town, unable to mobilize any spiritual energy. This was not a spirit-sealing formation but a kind of rule. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou found nearly a hundred cages here, most of them empty, with only about a dozen holding captives. To be precise, they were not holding people but soul bodies. Under the suppression of the rules, these soul bodies were listless and dispirited. Some soul bodies drooled at the sight of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, wanting to pounce on them and devour them, but they all behaved upon seeing Eldest Senior Sister. Lu Yang thought it strange that so few people were detained here; even the dungeons in Yanjiang County held more. These are ancient Unity Stage beings that are imprisoned here. Be cautious, Yun Zhi warned. Both shivered, no longer thinking there were too few prisoners. Goodness, a dozen Unity Stage beings imprisoned here? Eldest Senior Sister, arent you afraid theyll escape? Lu Yang asked quietly. Escape? You really underestimate me, young man. A childish voice came, and Lu Yang turned around to see a white-haired child, not very tall, reaching only to his waist when standing on tiptoes. Grandmaster. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were surprised; the white-haired child was actually Daoist Non-Speakers master. Grandmaster, they both eximed. Hehe, do you think Im too young? Not at all. The white-haired child spoke with an old souls demeanor: You are still too young,cking in experience. You dont understand my state; this is a form of cultivation. Lu Yang quickly thought of a legend: The ancients said, When virtue is constant, it returns to the infant. The masses are bustling, as if feasting on a sacrificial bull, as if climbing terraces in spring, but I alone am calm, not yet showing signs, like an infant who has not yet smiled.'' Many great cultivators spend their entire lives seeking the heart of a child, yet they can never reach this state. Deliberately pursuing it is already not a childs thought. How can one achieve the true heart of a child? Are you saying, Grandmaster, that you have returned to the infant, reaching the state of returning to the original and uniting with the heavens, possessing the heart of a child? Meng Jingzhou was also astonished; the heart of a child has always existed in legends. None of the elders in the Meng family had reached this state. Who would have thought the Dao Seeking Sect had one? The white-haired child smiled without saying a word, nodding gently in a manner that suggested he found them teachable. Yun Zhi was a bit puzzled, Thats not the story I heard. Master said that when you were young, Grandmaster, you were frivolous and lingered in brothels, dying your cultivation. Then something stimted you, and you suddenly realized you needed to diligently pursue your cultivation. To keep your purpose clear, you permanently fixed your body at the age of six, so you wouldnt have to worry about leaking yang energy. Lu Yang: Meng Jingzhou: Strictly speaking, this was indeed a form of cultivation. The two recalled that cultivators at a certain level could control their appearance, so why did some choose to remain as children or elderly? Could it be for the same reason as Grandmaster? No, no, no, this wasnt something to dwell on too much. They quickly cleared their minds. Anyway, with me here, none of the Unity Stage beings locked up here should think about escaping! the white-haired child forcibly changed the subject. Yun girl, youve brought back two more? Yes, I want to interrogate them. Why not just search their souls directly? the white-haired child suggested. Yun Zhi shook her head, Soul searching would damage their minds. Unity Stage souls are excellent materials for refining treasures. Losing their minds would greatly reduce the effectiveness of the treasures. The two Unity Stage souls shivered. Wasnt the Dao Seeking Sect supposed to be a righteous sect? This was different from what they had imagined! Yun Zhi looked puzzled at the two Unity Stage beings, not understanding why they were afraid. Youve caused so many people to die in fear, isnt it normal for you to receive the same treatment? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Yun Zhi thought these two would have understood this principle by now. Yun Zhi and the white-haired child each grabbed a Unity Stage soul and threw them into cages, with Lu Yang following Yun Zhi and Meng Jingzhou following the white-haired child. Yun Zhi began with a series of harsh tortures, using various tools designed for the soul, causing the prisoner to scream in pain. Lu Yang twitched at the sight, not expecting Eldest Senior Sister to be so ruthless. Wait, wasnt Eldest Senior Sister like this when he first started practicing? Could it be that Eldest Senior Sister applied her experience in torture to teaching cultivation? Evesting Fairy shuddered each time Eldest Senior Sister used a torture device, thinking joining the Dao Seeking Sect was a wise choice. The Dao Seeking Sect wouldnt be this harsh on their own, right? Strange, why isnt he confessing to anything? Yun Zhi was puzzled. Grandmaster had told her that following this procedure, prisoners would confess everything. Lu Yang whispered from the side, Eldest Senior Sister, you havent asked him anything yet. Yun Zhi uttered an Oh, picked up the first torture device, ready to start over, scaring the other party into hurriedly saying, No, no, no, Ill confess, Ill confess everything. What era are you from? The forty thousandth year of the Great Yu era. Ever heard of Evesting Celestial or Evesting Fairy? Never heard of them. Hm? Still lying? The man was nearly scared to tears by Yun Zhis indifferent expression: Really, Ive never heard of them. In our era, we only heard that the Western Golden Buddhist Kingdom and the southern demon realm had immortals, and there were rumors of immortals in the eastern ocean and the far north, but I dont know a single immortals name. If youre looking for Evesting Celestial, you might want to check the far north. Maybe the immortal got frozen, bing evesting that way. Evesting Fairy was so angry she wanted to roll up her sleeves and start a fight right there. (End of the chapter) Chapter 147: The Five Ancient Immortals Chapter 147: The Five Ancient Immortals Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Evesting Fairy bristled with anger. Evesting was a title she took pride in and would not allow to be sullied by a mere Unity Stage. Ill freeze you into the marrow of ten thousand years of ice, then deep-fry you with oil! Evesting Fairy threatened fiercely. Did they really think immortals were so easily bullied? That so-called True Immortal who challenged her was killed with a single poke from her, and she refused to believe that this Unity Stage could withstand her finger! Calm down, calm down. Inside the spiritual space, Lu Yang held Evesting Fairy back, persuading her to roll down her sleeves. The Unity Stage, named Sanli Zhenren, confessed things not much different from what True Immortal had said. The only valuable piece of information was the location of a heavenly domain. (TL Note: Zhenren is a Chinese term that first appeared in the Zhuangzi meaning Taoist spiritual master in those writings. Religious Taoism mythologized zhenren, having them upy various ces in the celestial hierarchy sometimes synonymous with xian (immortals), while Chinese Buddhism used it to trante Arahant Enlightened One.) The domain is there, hiding all my lifes wealth. If you dont believe me, you can go see for yourself to know Im not lying. But Ive set a rule on that domain: only those below the Foundation Building stage can enter. However, those at the Foundation Building stage can never take control of that domain. Swear you wont refine me, and Ill give that domain to you! Sanli Zhenren threatened. Yun Zhi did not agree, showing not even a hint of yielding. Although the Dao Seeking Sect refined souls and had an unorthodox air, having recruited Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, it was still considered a reputable sect with lines it would not cross, including lying. Yun Zhi then left the prison with Lu Yang, just as they ran into Grandmaster and Meng Jingzhou, who had also finished their interrogation. Yun Zhi and Grandmasterpared their interrogations, which were basically consistent. The only difference was that the Unity Stage interrogated by Grandmaster knew of an immortal named Ying Tian Immortal. (TL Note: See chapter 123) Ying Tian Immortal is in the East Sea, but he didnt know the exact location. Yun Zhi nodded, which was not new information. Having captured so many ancient Unity Stages and researched ancient texts, it was already known that one of the ancient five immortals, Ying Tian Immortal, was in the East Sea. Ying Tian Immortal? This wasnt the first time Lu Yang heard this name; Evesting Fairy had mentioned it a few times. ording to Evesting Fairy, Ying Tian Immortal was an immortal with strengthparable to hers. Considering Evesting Fairys strength and character, Lu Yang didnt have an urate perception of Ying Tian Immortal yet. Ying Tian Immortal is in the East Sea? Lets go, take me to find him. With me appearing on your behalf, with my reputation, I guarantee youll enjoy all the best things! Inside the spiritual space, Evesting Fairy excitedly proposed, promising Lu Yang the world. Lu Yang reminded her, Dont forget how you died. Up to now, we still dont know who killed you. Besides you, there are four immortals, and it must have been one of them. Arent you afraid it was Ying Tian Immortal? Evesting Fairy, doused with a bucket of cold water by Lu Yang, calmed down and muttered, It it shouldnt be. Ying Tian Immortal is a decent person, not likely to have ill intentions Then, who among the four immortals do you think is most likely to have killed you? Evesting Fairy was silent, believing none of them would kill her. Everyone seemed friendly and polite to her on the surface. But she had to admit, her death was certainly rted to one of the four immortals. Then, who do you think could refine the stars into continents? Lu Yang asked, feeling this could be a clue to narrow down the range of the ancient nameless figure. Evesting Fairy didnt understand Lu Yangs point, All five of us could. Lu Yang: wow?! Did I underestimate you before, considering your true capabilities? Lu Yang finally realized, being an immortal wasnt just a realm; it represented the ultimate pursuit of cultivators, signifying reaching the pinnacle of cultivation, wielding infinite power, and easily refining stars C something Evesting Fairy had yet to showcase her ability to do, as she was still recovering. Then, Yun Zhi told Lu Yang, The ancient immortals are Ying Tian Immortal, Qilin Immortal, Immemorial Immortal, and Nonuple Immortal. For ordinary people, immortals were highly exalted and inscrutable, their very existence uncertain. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, for instance, only learned about the existence of the Evesting Celestial through the Undying Sect. However, from Yun Zhis vantage point, she knew far more than ordinary people about the four immortals, whose titles were no secret to her. The exact locations of the four immortals are unclear, but it is certain that the Ying Tian Immortal is in the eastern sea, the Qilin Immortal in the southern demonic realm, while the whereabouts of the Immemorial Immortal and the Nonuple Immortal are unknown. Lu Yang was startled by one of the immortals titles. Qilin? He recalled the little medical kings in the medicine garden, one of which was the undying qilin medicine. Legend had it that the qilin did not truly exist C what ancient people saw were actually the undying qilin medicines. If this immortal was called the Qilin Immortal, did it mean his true form was a qilin? Seeing Lu Yangs interest, the Evesting Fairy exined, The Qilin Immortals true name is Shi He. His true form is indeed a qilin. ording to him, he is the sole existence of his kind in the world, an inconceivable being born from thebination of all worldly destinies. At least in my era, there was only one qilin. Im not too familiar with the current era, but there should not be a second qilin. In fact, before the Evesting Fairy appeared, Yun Zhi had always thought there were only four immortals in antiquity C or rather, everyone thought so. The Unity Stage imprisoned in the Peak of Imprisonment was the most ancient, dating back over 200,000 years to the Great Antiquity Era. ording to him, there were only four immortals in antiquity. Not just the prisoners of the Peak, but ancient texts also recorded only four immortals in antiquity: the Ying Tian Immortal, Qilin Immortal, Immemorial Immortal, and Nonuple Immortal. Before the emergence of the Undying Sect, there was no record whatsoever of an Evesting Fairy in history! After the Undying Sect appeared, some cultivators believed this was an immortal made up from thin air, non-existent in antiquity. In ancient times, I was hugely renowned. Even the Tribtion Crossing Stage trembled before me. How could my immortal name be missing? The Evesting Fairy was outraged upon learning this. Whoever killed her was familiar with her ariya-ph characteristic and deliberately erased her existence from history. Thats not right. Based on the ancient immortal naming conventions, you should be called the Evesting Immortal, said Lu Yang. It was that damned Ying Tian Immortal who suggested using three-word names, saying they had more gravitas. Everyone started using three-word immortal names, and he even rmended I go by Evesting Immortal. But I didnt want to be called the Evesting Immortal C it sounds so ugly and doesnt distinguish between male and female, making me sound like a man. Isnt Evesting Fairy so much nicer to the ear? Lu Yang thought Yellow Bean sounded even better, but he didnt dare say it aloud lest the Evesting Fairy flew into a rage. After ensuring the two prisoners were secured, the Eldest Senior Sister bid farewell to her master and left the Peak of Imprisonment with Lu Yang. Eldest Senior Sister, are we going to the remnant celestial realm that Sanli Zhenren mentioned? Lu Yang noticed the Eldest Senior Sister had no intention of returning to Heavens Gate Peak and had flown out of the Dao Seeking Sect instead. The cloud Yun Zhi rode was vast, obscuring the view below, so Lu Yang did not feel vertigo. Yun Zhi nodded. The lifes possessions of a Unity Stage expert were worth examining. (End of the chapter) Chapter 148: Sanlis Heavenly Realm Chapter 148: Sanlis Heavenly Realm Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii What heavenly realm? Meng Jingzhou wasnt present during the harsh interrogation. Lu Yang exined: The person we were interrogating is called Sanli Zhenren. He left behind a heavenly realm where only cultivators at the Foundation Building stage or below can enter, hiding his lifetime of treasures. The lifetime wealth of a Unity Stage? Meng Jingzhou gasped. Lu Yang didnt grasp how astonishing the wealth of a Unity Stage could be, but Meng Jingzhou did. Just looking at the elders in his family, he knew it was a fortune that couldnt be squandered in a lifetime, something he had always envied. If they could obtain it, or even just a fraction, that would be a fortune. Even for a behemoth like the Dao Seeking Sect, the wealth of a Unity Stage couldnt be ignored! And only those at the Foundation Building stage can enter, heh heh, isnt this giving us two an opportunity? Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou chuckled. Such a realm, restricted by cultivation level, was perfect for them to showcase their abilities. Eldest Senior Sister bringing them here must be considering their talents, wanting the two of them to enter the heavenly realm. The cloud flew at incredible speed. To those looking up from the ground, a cloud shed by in the blink of an eye, so fast it seemed like an illusion. Soon, the trio arrived at the location mentioned by Sanli Zhenren. The regional divisions of the Great Yu era were different from todays. ording to the current terms, Sanli Zhenrens heavenly realm was located in Huayun County, East Ji State, at the Da Lang Mountain, under the sixteenth tree counting down from the top. Yun Zhi caressed the tree trunk, feeling the spatial fluctuations, confirming the existence of a heavenly realm here. The location of the heavenly realm was concealed and difficult to detect. Even someone as powerful as Yun Zhi needed to be very close to know whether a heavenly realm existed. Sanli Zhenrens heavenly realm had yet to be discovered by others. Yun Zhi gently flicked the tree trunk with the backs of her index and middle fingers. Apanied by a distortion, a pitch-ck hole appeared in front of them. The entrance was a ck vortex, continuously spinning with runes shing inside, indicating it was bound by rules, a privately owned heavenly realm that could not be easily entered. The entry rule for this heavenly realm was that only those under twenty years old at the Foundation Building stage could enter. Just as Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou thought Eldest Senior Sister was going to let them in, they saw Eldest Senior Sister grab the edges of the ck vortex and forcefully tear open a huge gap, shattering all rules in that moment, rendering all restrictions ineffective against Eldest Senior Sister. Lu Yang: Meng Jingzhou: Wasnt this supposed to be their moment to shine? Why did it differ from their expectations? Were they redundant here? Then why did Eldest Senior Sister bring them along? Lu Yang voiced his question, and Yun Zhi tilted her head to think for a moment: When we left the Prison Peak, didnt you both juste up? I didnt call for you, did I? Alright, they really were redundant. Inside the spiritual space, Evesting Fairyughed till she doubled over. The trio entered the heavenly realm, and upon looking around, they found themselves in a vast in. Elephants leisurely ate leaves, lions chased after antelopes, biting their necks in one go. On another side of the in was a lush rainforest, with enormous creatures moving through the trees. Lu Yang felt his cultivation level being suppressed, limiting him to the capabilities of the Late Qi Cultivation stage. Then, clouds formed conspicuous text in front of them. This ce is dangerous, leave quickly This ce is dangerous, leave quickly This ce is dangerous, leave quickly If you insist on entering, please remember the rules of Sanlis Heavenly Realm, they may save your life Rule 1: Everyones cultivation will be suppressed to the 9thyer of Qi Cultivation phase Rule 2: Unable to contact the outside world Rule 3: Sanlis Heavenly Realm only has grasnds, no rainforest. If you see a rainforest, please do not enter Rule 4: Lions are kind. If a lion chases you, do not run away; it only wants to y with you Rule 5: Antelopes are bipedal beasts with spiraling horns on their heads. It is normal for antelopes tough, please do not be afraid Rule 6: There are no elephants on the grasnd. If you see an elephant, be sure to seek protection from a lion; the lion will protect you Rule 7: If you identally enter the rainforest, do not panic. Staying calm is essential for survival in the rainforest Rule 8: The goris in the rainforest are humans in disguise, so it is normal for them to speak, but they will not initiate conversation Rule 9: The water in the rainforest is not drinkable Rule 10: If you encounter a Foundation Building stage beast, imitate the call of a gori; the beast will leave you alone Rule 11: All the above rules are true Then Lu Yang saw several lines written in blood at his feet, the writing hasty as if left in a hurry. Hurry and run, this ce is dangerous! Something strange has happened here! Note! The rules Im writing down are the real rules of Sanlis Heavenly Realm! Sanlis Heavenly Realm has both grasnds and rainforests, but the rainforest is safer than the grasnd! Lions have the cultivation of the Golden Core stage and will eat humans on sight! Antelopes do not walk upright. If you hear theughter of antelopes, leave quickly! Elephants will protect you! Stay calm in the rainforest! Do not initiate conversation with the goris, or you will be one! If you feel something odd with your body, drink the water from the rainforest immediately, it could save your life! Do not mimic the call of the goris; it will attract Golden Core stage beasts! The rules of Sanlis Heavenly Realm are all false Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were chilled to the bone upon seeing the bloodstains. The writing of the blood was iplete, thest character trailed off into a long bloodstain, as if someone desperately crawled out of the heavenly realm, only to be bitten and dragged back by some unknown terror, leaving behind a striking trail of blood. The duos scalp tingled. What was inside this heavenly realm? These rules are very problematic, full of contradictions. Which is correct, the previous set of rules or thetter? Based on our experience in Commoner Town, the first set of rules seems more formal and correct? Not necessarily. It doesnt say that the more formal rules are correct. Thetter, seemingly written in haste, could also be a form of rule, right? The two found it hard to decide. Now at only the 9thyer of Qi Cultivation, with the realm filled with Foundation Building and Golden Core stage beasts, they could not overpower them and had to rely on wits. But with two sets of rules and no way to discern truth from falsehood, a wrong choice could mean certain death, no redemption! Dont panic, there must be a way to solve this. One says lions are kind, the other says lions will eat people; one says elephants will kill, the other says elephants can protect us. We can try to bring lions and elephants together to see who can protect us. This way, we can determine which set of rules is the real one Is it possible that both sets of rules are half-true and half-false, designed to trap people? This is troublesome. Just as they were racking their brains for a way to survive, Yun Zhi raised her arm, revealing her fair wrist, and lightly struck out with her palm. This was clearly not a strike from the Qi Cultivation phase. The wind carried terrifying power, howling wildly, scaring lions, antelopes, elephants, and goris into running away. Whether predator or protector, faced with this strike, there was no difference; only flight was an option. This strike cleaved through both the grasnd and the rainforest, creating a direct path to the destination. How could the rules of this ce possibly restrain Yun Zhi? (End of the chapter) Chapter 149: Ancient Tribulation Crossing Stage Chapter 149: Ancient Tribtion Crossing Stage Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii No, theres a problem with the rules here, Yun Zhi frowned, sensing something was amiss the moment she acted. Her strike should have shattered the rules of this ce, but instead, the rules seemed to disperse in form but not in essence, which shouldnt be the case even with her holding back. There are two types of rules here. Yun Zhi realized the issue. The first set of rules, written in the clouds, were the original ones. Later, a mutation urred, giving rise to the second set of rules, those written in blood. The contradiction between the two sets of rules caused the entire heavenly realm to be in chaos! Someone intentionally made the heavenly realm chaotic, allowing entry but no exit! And since the second set of rules, being an external imposition, could contest with the original set, it suggested that the person who left the second set was more powerful than the master of the heavenly realm! And Sanli Zhenren was at the peak of the Unity Stage. Hehe, who dares disturb my slumber? The sound of ice crystals cracking resounded, followed by a tyrannical aura bursting forth from the end point, like a king above the nine heavens, cold and merciless, looking down upon the world. Light pierced through the sky, and the presence was heart-stopping. The aura grew stronger, sweeping across everything in its path. Tribtion Crossing initial stage, Evesting Fairy quickly assessed the opponents realm. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhous expressions changed drastically. An early-stage Tribtion Crossing, this was the strongest enemy they had faced. Why was a Tribtion Crossing Stage powerhouse sleeping in a Unity Stages heavenly realm?! Evesting Fairy, with her broad knowledge, quickly thought of a reason. Its quite understandable. A heavenly realm is a good hiding ce, where one can awaken and gradually recover strength. The downside is the inability to promptly detect changes in the outside world. For example, Sanli Zhenren felt the spiritual essence changing and awoke ordingly. But for this Tribtion Crossing Stage, its possible he wouldnt wake up even after the great worldly conflicts have ended. So he devised a clever method. If Sanli Zhenren could wake up, then upon awakening, Sanli would naturally return to his heavenly realm. Discovering the change in rules, Sanli would surely take action, which would awaken him. This Tribtion Crossing Stage set up new rules in the heavenly realm to ensure that those who mistakenly enter would perish, not disturbing his slumber. Lu Yang broke out in a cold sweat, not anticipating theplexity behind the scenes. Hey, what are you afraid of? With me here, a mere early-stage Tribtion Crossing is nothing, I could kick him to death. Yellow Bean boasted, knowing Yun Zhi was there and it wouldnt be her turn to act. I am the Blood Demon Sovereign. Who are you, state your name. The Blood Demon Sovereign coldly eyed Eldest Senior Sister, recognizing that anyone who could easily break the rules was at least at the initial stage of Tribtion Crossing. But what of it? He was confident that even against a mid-stage Tribtion Crossing, he wouldnt be at a disadvantage. Blood Demon Sovereign?! Meng Jingzhou whispered in shock. You know him? Lu Yang asked. I do. The number of Tribtion Crossing Stages is limited, and each one is significant enough to be extensively documented in history books. Thus, Meng Jingzhou had heard of the Blood Demon Sovereign. As a child, when he couldnt sleep, his mother would frighten him with tales of the Blood Demon Sovereign. The Blood Demon Sovereign is a demonic cultivator, infamous for his countless killings. Legend has it that he wrote down the names of cities on slips of paper, crumpled them into balls, and whichever he picked, he would use the people of that city for his cultivation. His path to cultivation was paved with bones! He also supported a certain Emperor Yu, bing the national teacher, wielding great power during the Great Yu dynasty. Later, he disappeared. Some said he hadmitted too many atrocities and died under thunder tribtion. Now, it seems he was hiding here! Dao Seeking Sect, Yun Zhi. Seeing Yun Zhi unmoved, the Blood Demon was puzzled. Had his name not reached this era? Well, then, lets have a grand ughter and let the world remember my name. Tribtion Crossing Stage cultivators are different from those at the Unity Stage; they can quickly return to their peak state upon awakening. A colossal blood-colored giant stood towering, roaring ferociously. The giant transformed the rules into an axe, wielding it effortlessly. The space trembled, as if the entire heavenly realm couldnt withstand his might! Yun Zhi stood with one hand in front of her chest, emitting boundless golden light, resembling a Buddhaing out of a mural, sacred and supreme, invible. She pushed forward with a palm, and thousands of rays of golden light pierced through the darkness, striking towards the blood-colored giant. The giant tried to block with the dual axes formed from the rules, but they gradually melted away under the onught of golden light, along with the giants hard shell. The Blood Demon Sovereign was shocked: No, you are not at the initial stage of Tribtion Crossing! He tore through space, turning to flee. Engaging with someone at the mid-stage of Tribtion Crossing wouldnt determine the oue quickly. There was no point in provoking such an opponent over pride, it was not worth it. Tearing through space would randomly transport him to any location in the world, ensuring the other party could not find him. Just as the Blood Demon Sovereign was about tough and issue a fierce deration, he saw endless brilliant golden light in front of him. Within the light, a graceful figure approached. The figure seemed to walk slowly, but in reality, moved so fast that she appeared in front of the Blood Demon Sovereign in the blink of an eye. No, you are not at the mid-stage of Tribtion Crossing. Not even ate-stage could have such methods. You are at the peak of Tribtion Crossing, or even more You know too much. Yun Zhi coldly responded, sping and twisting her hands together to squeeze out the soul of the Blood Demon Sovereign. The physical body of a Tribtion Crossing Stage is the best material for refinement and should not be easily destroyed. Yun Zhi took out a jade clean bottle and ced the Blood Demon Sovereigns soul inside, nning to return to the sect and interrogate him slowly. The entire process was easy and leisurely, as if nothing had happened in the heavenly realm. Lions and antelopes danced together, proving they were friendly beasts, while elephantsy on the ground, feigning death with their legs in the air. It seems that ancient Tribtion Crossing Stages might be hiding in heavenly realms. Yun Zhi pondered. This was an aspect she hadnt considered before. After leaving the heavenly realm, she would need to inform the other four immortal sects and the Great Xia Dynasty. Lets go. Yun Zhi left a light remark and started walking towards the destination with graceful steps. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou exchanged nces and followed, jogging along. For them, the journey was without any dangerat least, thats how it seemed to Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. But from the perspective of the beasts, it was a different scenea terrifying grand demon with a chilling aura led her two attendants, roaming freely in the heavenly realm, extremely dangerous. Upon reaching the destination, they found several giant golden treasure chests and piles of spirit stones. The number of top-grade spirit stones was even more than the high-grade ones, a truly drool-worthy sight. This ce held not only Sanli Zhenrens treasures but also some of the Blood Demon Sovereigns belongings. Yun Zhi opened the golden treasure chests, revealing various heavenly materials and earth treasures, cultivation techniques, and secret manuals. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were dazzled. Even with Meng Jingzhous knowledge, it was hard to identify these treasures immediately. Yun Zhi could easily name and describe their uses: Dragon Transformation Grass, if consumed and refined by a flood dragon, can increase the chances of transforming into a dragon by thirty percent. Transforming into a dragon is every flood dragons dream; it goes without saying how valuable this item is. Bodhi Fruit, consuming it enhances ones wisdom roots, but the cost is losing ones hair forever. Red Sun Vajra Sand, essential material for refining high-level fire attribute magical weapons. ss Pure Water, applying it all over the body can preserve the physical body for a hundred thousand years. Unity Stage demonic beasts inner core Unity Stage dragon sinew Happy Union Aphrodisiac There were many treasures rted to unions. (End of the chapter) Chapter 150: That Bastard Ying Tian Immortal Chapter 150: That Bastard Ying Tian Immortal Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii (TL Note: Changed Feathery Immortal Physique -> Feathered Immortal Physique) Regrettably, some of the heavenly materials and earthly treasures had lost their medicinal properties due to improper storage, bing mundane objects. Others had diminished in value due to changes over the ages. For instance, the Happy Union Aphrodisiac had expired, and the price of the Dragon Transformation Grass had plummeted after the Dragon n discovered a stable cultivation method two thousand years ago. They have archaeological value andmemorative significance. They could be sold to the Dragon n museum, Yun Zhi whispered. Wild Dragon Transformation Grass in perfect condition is extremely rare. She had visited the Dragon n museum, which did not have any wild Dragon Transformation Grass. All this junk, back when I was alive, I wouldnt even bother picking these things up if they fell on the ground! Yellow Bean scoffed disdainfully, telling Lu Yang, Wait until you find my treasure trove, and Ill show you what real treasures are! Lu Yang rolled his eyes, ignoring Evesting Fairys remark, and continued scouring for treasures with Eldest Senior Sister. Evesting Fairy, stomping her foot in frustration, reminisced about the ancient times when many cultivators would spend their fortunes just for a glimpse of her or to hear her speak. Her words were like those of an immortal, benefiting one for a lifetime! This kid really didnt know what was good for him. Ignoring him! Suddenly, Lu Yang stumbled upon a thick book with exquisite packaging. The books material was soft to the touch, clearly no ordinary item. Perhaps due to its uniqueness, the Blood Demon Sovereign had specifically noted the books origin. Lu Yang read out loud, This immortal technique was acquired from a stall in a ck market. ording to the stall owner, its origins, material, and content were unknown. However, one thing for certain was its ancient provenance and that it was sealed by a powerful formation, dating back to the ancient era. Iughed at the seller for not recognizing its value, oblivious to the treasure in his possession. I strained to use my heavenly eye to see beneath the seal, and at the ce for the authors name, there was the word immortal. This is not merely an item from the ancient era, but something belonging to the ancient immortals. A book written by an immortal could potentially be an legendary immortal technique! s, the ancient seal was so powerful that I spent my entire life unable to unlock it. An immortal technique! Lu Yang eximed, his heart racing at the thought of finding a legendary immortal technique in such a ce, a great opportunity indeed! And such a thick book might either contain aplex immortal technique or several techniques. Either possibility was invaluable! He tried to open the book, finding it sealed just as the Blood Demon Sovereign had described. Hmm? This looks familiar, Evesting Fairymented, her attention diverted from Lu Yang for a solid twenty seconds. Have you seen it before? Can you unlock the seal? Lu Yang asked. Of course, this little seal is nothing but a flick of a finger to me. Following Evesting Fairys instructions, Lu Yang carefully infused his spiritual power into it and indeed unlocked the seal. Suppressing his excitement, Lu Yang opened the ancient book, which listed the authors name at the bottom right Ying Tian Immortal. Truly a book by an immortal, Lu Yang was delighted. Ying Tian Immortal should be a reliable immortal. If all the ancient immortals were like Evesting Fairy, how did the ancient times not copse? Looking up, he saw the title of the book The Complete Guide to Cooking. Huh? Flipping through a few pages, Lu Yang found the content perfectly matched the title, detailing how to cook various demonic beasts. Screw your immortal technique! Ying Tian Immortal, youre absolutely unreliable! You even sealed such a thing, afraid that humans would cook demonic beasts to extinction? Evesting Fairy sensed something was amiss and frowned, Wait, thats not right. Ive tasted all sorts of demonic beasts and treasures,piling my cooking experience into a book, which was my pride. How did it be Ying Tian Immortals? Evesting Fairy gritted her teeth, That bastard Ying Tian Immortal stole my work after I died? So, you were the author. That makes a lot of sense, Lu Yang suddenly understood. What did you say? Evesting Fairy looked displeased. Ah, no, I meant to say that Ying Tian Immortal was just fooling around by putting his name on this kind of book. Evesting Fairy felt Lu Yang was looking down on her too much: You kid cant appreciate the value, scoffing at my work. If you could master the recipes in this book, at the very least, youd be a Tribtion Crossing Stage spiritual chef. If this were known outside, there would be a mad scramble for it, to the point of fighting dogs for it! When I cooked for the other four back in the day, they felt unworthy to eat my cooking and tried every possible excuse not toe! Are you sure it wasnt because your cooking was too awful? Nonsense, my cooking could emit golden light, how could it possibly taste bad! The argument between the human and the fairy went back and forth, eventually circling back to Ying Tian Immortal. After much discussion, no conclusion was reached. Lu Yang mentioned this to Eldest Senior Sister, but Yun Zhi merely frowned and said nothing. On Meng Jingzhous side, some techniques were found and weighed by the pound. Some had been lost over time, others had been improved upon. All in all, the loot was significant. While sifting through the treasures, Yun Zhi expressed surprise: Is this a cultivation experience from a wless Immortal Physique? Yun Zhi was astonished to find cultivation experiences for a wless Immortal Physique here, especially from someone at the early stages of Unity. Cultivation experiences for immortal physiques are rare, and those suitable for Dao Seeking Sect are even rarer. In the spiritual space, Lu Yang asked, Fairy, were there immortal physiques back in your time? Could they be immortals? As far as Lu Yang knew, there are twenty known types of immortal physiques in the world, rarer than single spiritual roots. Each immortal physique cultivator, upon reaching the Unity Stage, automatically forms rules, with terrifying and unpredictable power, making them difficult to defend against. Lu Yang heard that there were two immortal physiques within his sect, Peach Blossom Leaf and her master, the Sixth Elder. Peach Blossom Leaf has a Feathered Immortal Physique, and the Sixth Elder has a wless Immortal Physique. At this moment, Yellow Bean was still seething with anger over that shameless Ying Tian Immortal stealing her copyright. Her anger quickly subsided, though. Yellow Bean is quite magnanimous. Upon hearing Lu Yangs question, she shifted her focus. Immortal physiques? Yes, we had immortal physiques in our time, and their history is much longer than you might think. The concept of immortal physiques dates back to the most ancient times when the human race did not yet know how to cultivate and had to figure it out themselves. Foundation Building, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformationall these stages were developed step by step by those with immortal physiques relying on their special traits. As for those among the immortal physiques who became immortals, I only know of one person, Nonuple Immortal. He was a formidable opponent, equal in strength to me! Evesting Fairy mentioned Nonuple Immortal with a serious expression, acknowledging his power. Nonuple Immortal was the first among us to be an immortal. ording to him, his immortal physique yed a significant role in his ascension! Lu Yang sneakily asked, Is Eldest Senior Sister an immortal physique, and what exactly is her cultivation level? Evesting Fairy chuckled, You guess. Lu Yangs face darkened. How am I supposed to guess. Lu Yang, when you return to the sect, hand this cultivation experience over to the Sixth Elder. This experience suits her the most. Understood. The trio returned to Dao Seeking Sect with rich rewards. Yun Zhi went to the Prison Peak to interrogate the Blood Demon Sovereign, Meng Jingzhou returned to the Body Refining Peak for cultivation, and Lu Yang went to the Sixth Elder at the Dust-Free Peak to deliver the cultivation experience. (End of the chapter) Chapter 151: The Sixth Elder Chapter 151: The Sixth Elder Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Dust-Free Peak, the mountain where the elegant Sixth Elder resides. Dust-Free Peak is somewhat simr to Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, only epting female disciples, fluttering like swallows, with beauties like clouds, and the most beautiful among them is the Sixth Elder. Rumors say that the Sixth Elder and the master of Moon Laurel Immortal Pce are close friends. Lu Yang had heard his senior brothers talk about the Sixth Elder many times, all advising not to loseposure upon seeing the Sixth Elder, for she is a woman of breathtaking beauty. Lu Yang? What brings you here? At the foot of Dust-Free Peak, Lu Yang encountered Peach Blossom Leaf. Peach Blossom Leaf is tall and radiant, standing out in a crowd. Lu Yang presented the ancient book: Eldest Senior Sister told me to give this book to the Sixth Elder. My master is out on an errand and wont be back for over half an hour. Would you like toe in and sit? Peach Blossom Leaf invited. Lu Yang showed a hesitant eagerness: Isnt it improper? Im a man, after all Its fine, its fine. Anyway, were the two with the lowest cultivation levels in Dust-Free Peak; nothing will happen. Lu Yang silently observed Peach Blossom Leaf, whose eyes were clear, seemingly unaware of the psychological impact her words had on him. Lu Yang sighed and followed Peach Blossom Leaf, who turned her head with a sly smile. Oh right, I still owe you five contribution points. Im giving them back now. Lu Yang had borrowed five contribution points from Peach Blossom Leaf to buy the Strength of Ten Bulls pill, which was quite helpful to him. You remembered that, I had forgotten. Peach Blossom Leaf chuckled. Wait, do I also have a lot of contribution points? Evesting Fairy remembered she is an honorary guest elder of Dao Seeking Sect and had even killed a Unity Stage cultivator, for which Yun Zhi rewarded her many contribution points. Lu Yang! Lu Yang! I want to exchange them, I want to exchange them. Evesting Fairy made a fuss, and Lu Yang couldnt help but say, Once we leave Dust-Free Peak, Ill take you to the contribution exchange board, and you can buy whatever you want. Thats more like it. Evesting Fairy nodded in satisfaction, feeling Lu Yang was a promising talent. Be careful over there, definitely do not go there. Peach Blossom Leaf pointed to a pool, warning Lu Yang. The pool was shrouded in mist, obscuring what was inside, apanied by delightfulughter. Senior Sisters like to bathe there. A few years ago, a senior brother, confident in his stealth techniques, sneaked into Dust-Free Peak, hoping to peep at the Senior Sisters. Then we heard the senior brothers screams. Where is this senior brother now? Given his proficiency in stealth, he has vanished from the mortal world. Geez, Dust-Free Peak is dangerous. Lu Yang was d he was a man of integrity. Peach Blossom Leaf led Lu Yang to her usual practice area: Fancy a spar? Sure. Lu Yang happily agreed, drawing out his Qingfeng Sword, recalling that Evesting Fairy remembered Lu Yang is a sword spirit root, theoretically meant to wield a sword. She hadnt seen Lu Yang use a sword since her revival. Junior Brother Lu, be careful, Ive learned something new these past two months. Peach Blossom Leaf opened a red paper umbre. With a twist of her wrist and a slight loosening of her grip, the umbre spun, scattering peach blossoms like rain and snow, blocking Lu Yangs vision. Sword light filled the air, sweeping through with a whistling sound, intending to clear the falling petals. Behind Lu Yang, the peach petals gradually formed a silhouette. Peach Blossom Leaf closed the umbre, swinging it downwards. Lu Yang seemed to have anticipated Peach Blossom Leafs move, holding the sword behind him with one hand, blocking the strike. The material of the red paper umbre was unknown, as it could sh directly with the Qingfeng Sword without any damage. Sword light shed unexpectedly, and Peach Blossom Leaf was surprised by the swiftness of Lu Yangs sword moves. Dotting Technique! Lu Yangs gaze sharpened, showing no mercy as he aimed for Peach Blossom Leafs chest. Peach Blossom Leaf chuckled softly, stepping backward. Her umbre tip collided with the sword tip, trying to disrupt Lu Yangs swordy. However, Lu Yangs hand was steady, showing no tremor, relentlessly pursuing Peach Blossom Leaf. Amidst the rain of peach blossoms, Qingfeng Sword shed with the red paper umbre, their figures agilely moving past each other, disappearing from sight. Both had their moments of advantage, yet neither found the right opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. Suddenly, Lu Yangs eyes lit up, finding a gap in Peach Blossom Leafs defense. Qingfeng Sword, smooth as a swimming fish, wove through the rain of peach blossoms, resting on Peach Blossom Leafs neck. I concede. Peach Blossom Leaf surrendered with a gesture of resignation. Lu Yang changed his move, stabbing towards an empty spot. The real Peach Blossom Leaf, astonished at the gleaming sword tip aimed at her forehead, truly conceded this time. The rain of peach blossoms vanished, and the previously surrendering Peach Blossom Leaf disappeared, all being an illusion. How did you realize the real me was there? Peach Blossom Leaf didnt mind losing; she was good at learning from post-battle experiences. I practice the Enlightenment of Heart and Nature Technique, which can see through illusions. Its your nemesis. Enlightenment of Heart and Nature Technique? Never heard of it. I wrote it myself. Lu Yang boasted, as writing ones own cultivation technique was no small feat. Peach Blossom Leaf was about to say more when a fiery crimson mist flew over their heads. Master is back. Peach Blossom Leaf led Lu Yang to the Sixth Elders residence, and indeed, as his senior brothers had said, the Sixth Elder was extremely beautiful. Unlike Eldest Senior Sisters cold beauty, the Sixth Elders smile was gentle, like a caring older sister, giving off a very warm feeling. HuHuHu Suddenly, Lu Yang felt like he was suffocating, as if the oxygen around him had vanished. He struggled to breathe, trying to squeeze some oxygen from the air, to no avail. Peach Blossom Leaf, you didnt tell her about me? Peach Blossom Leaf pped her forehead: I forgot. Quickly pulling Lu Yang to a distance from the Sixth Elder, he breathed as if a fish returned to water. HuHuWhats going on? Peach Blossom Leaf apologized with a smile: Sorry, I forgot to mention, my master is a wless Immortal Physique, untouched by dust, automatically expelling air around her. She cant control it, so those close to her might feel suffocated. Just hold your breath, and itll be fine. Lu Yang: No wonder people say the Sixth Elder is a beauty that takes ones breath away. Are you all in the Dao Seeking Sect this straightforward, not even using adjectives, just telling the blunt truth? Lu Yang held his breath and approached the Sixth Elder again. For a Foundation Building cultivator, not breathing for a short period is manageable with preparation. By the Golden Core stage, internal cirction can sustain life without the need for breathing. Lu Yang pays respects to the Sixth Elder. Lu Yang bowed respectfully, My master mentioned you, saying he has always regarded you as an elder sister. On the journey here, Daoist Non-Speaker told Lu Yang about his rtionship with the Sixth Elder, describing it in a touching manner that moved both Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. The Sixth Elder scoffed: Is that so? Ive always regarded him as a dear grandson. Lu Yang was at a loss for words, considering whether he should only mention Eldest Senior Sister when introducing himself in the future. Perhaps its best to avoid mentioning his masters name, which seems to bring embarrassment and animosity. (End of the chapter) Chapter 152: "The Art of Tree Planting" Chapter 152: The Art of Tree nting Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii This is an ancient book that Eldest Senior Sister asked me to give to you, Lu Yang, moving past the topic of his master, took out the cultivation insights for the wless Immortal Physique. The Sixth Elder was surprised to see the ancient book: Little Yun is thoughtful to have found such a treasure. Cultivation insights for immortal physiques are rare, especially those that match ones own. The Sixth Elder was delighted, like someone who had purchased a desired book, eager to start reading at home. Chi Qianqians Cultivation Diary First year of cultivation: My master told me that I am a one-in-a-thousand wless Immortal Physique, with a cultivation speed far surpassing my peers. This is great news, and I must practice diligently Second year of cultivation: My cultivation speed is indeed very fast. While others are only at the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, I have already built my foundation. The characteristics of the wless Immortal Physique are gradually showing. I must not disappoint my masters expectations and will continue to practice hard Third year of cultivation: Advancing in realms faster than drinking water, now at the Golden Core stage. Moreover, its a pure Golden Core, untouched by a speck of dust. My master says cultivation has no end, and I must continue to strive Seventh year of cultivation: Nascent Soul Stage The Sixth Elder kept flipping through the pages. The book recorded the life of a Great Yu cultivator, Chi Qianqian, which could be described as epic. Immersed in it, the Sixth Elder eventually reached thest page with a tremble in her heart. The previous page was at the peak of the Void Refinement Stage, surely the next page must detail the Unity Stage. Why is there only one page about the Unity Stage? Did something unfortunate happen to the person? The Sixth Elder suppressed her unease and turned to thest page. Six hundredth year of cultivation: Finally reached the Unity Stage. Anyway, I cant reach the Tribtion Crossing Stage, so might as well ck off! The diary ended. The Sixth Elder: She rubbed her temples, pondering what she had just read. It wasnt entirely useless. The record of cultivation from the Foundation Building stage to the Void Refinement Stage was detailed and could serve as a reference for her. Please thank Little Yun for her kindness. Now that Little Yun is in charge of Dao Seeking Sect, even if I wanted to express my gratitude, theres nothing here that would catch her eye. Ive heard from Little Yun that you have a unique talent in magic, capable of founding your own school. How about this, I give you a spellbook, would that be okay? The Sixth Elder smiled gently,municating with Lu Yang through spiritual sense. A vacuum field formed around the Sixth Elder, allowing only spiritualmunication. Lu Yang agreed. However, my attack methods rely on the power of the immortal physique, which might not suit you, the Sixth Elder pondered on what spellbook to give Lu Yang. Right, Ill give you The Art of Tree nting.'' The Art of Tree nting? Lu Yang looked puzzled, wondering if mastering this seemingly ordinary-sounding technique meant nting trees on barren mountains to promote a green development new pattern in the cultivation world. Or was it that nting many trees would earn him praise from Eldest Senior Sister and the title of Environmental Little Guardian? The Sixth Elder understood Lu Yangs thoughts: Dont underestimate this technique by its name. Its a spell many nt cultivators yearn for. If practiced sessfully, it can promote the growth of spiritual nts. Big sects would hold you in high esteem. Look at your second senior brother. Why do you think he stays in the herb garden? Because hes the best practitioner of The Art of Tree nting in our sect. Lu Yang realized the value of this technique. Mastered well, it could ensure a lifetime of prosperity, with every big sect having its own cultivation garden, eager for your service. The Sixth Elder added, In your spare time, you can also practice this technique. It helps soothe the mind and nurture ones character. Peach Blossom Leaf, that child has done well in learning The Art of Tree nting. If you have any questions, you can ask her. Lu Yang epted the technique, thanked the Sixth Elder, and left her residence with Peach Blossom Leaf. After leaving, the two resumed breathing. Its still early. Why not learn here with me? I can teach you, Peach Blossom Leaf suggested. Lu Yang thought it was a good idea. The Art of Tree nting, a high-difficulty wood-element magic that uses ones spiritual power to promote the growth of spiritual nts, it is difficult to start, harder to make minor progress, and even more challenging to master. To begin with The Art of Tree nting, one must first achieve a state of mind akin to a still well, entering a state simr to unity with heaven and earth, to perceive and understand the nts, conforming to the naturalws of their growth to promote their rapid development. For the initial practice, ordinary seeds are most suitable. Our spiritual power can easily make the seeds grow into trees. Its said that cultivation geniuses can even achieve growth, flowering, and fruiting in their first attempt,pleting the entire process seamlessly. Willow trees are empathetic and most suitable for practicing The Art of Tree nting. Here is a willow seed, Junior Brother Lu, take it and close your eyes to see if you can resonate with the willow seed. Peach Blossom Leaf handed Lu Yang a piece of willow fluff. Following the method recorded in The Art of Tree ntingbined with Peach Blossom Leafs cultivation insights, Lu Yang sought to understand with his heart. A breeze caressed thewn, and the sunlight was not too strong, providing a veryfortable feeling. Gradually emptying himself, Lu Yang felt as if he was floating between heaven and earth, vaguely grasping the life pattern of the willow fluff. Peach Blossom Leaf, sensing Lu Yangs unusual state, was surprised. It took her three days to reach this step when she first started, and her master praised her sensing ability as one of the best in history. Yet, Junior Brother Lu achieved it in just half an hour! Ive always heard that Junior Brother Lus talent in magic is unparalleled, even more so than his swordsmanship. But Peach Blossom Leaf didnt expect Lu Yangs talent in magic to be this profound. No wonder hes personally taught by Eldest Senior Sister. With such talent, others might not be able to teach him. Evesting Fairy, hearing Peach Blossom Leafs murmurs, agreed wholeheartedly. Indeed, who else but her could teach him? At this moment, Lu Yang gained a new insight into The Art of Tree nting. He ced the willow fluff on the ground and pointed at it, using his own spiritual power as the driving force for its growth. Grow! Lu Yang shouted. After a while, nothing happened. Peach Blossom Leaf weakly reminded from the side, Um, Junior Brother Lu, people usually nt the seeds in the soil. Good point. Lu Yang picked up the willow seed and, using the Shrink Earth technique, zipped it into the soil. Peach Blossom Leafs eyes widened, surprised that Junior Brother Lu also knew the Earth Escape technique, one of the Five Elements Escape Techniques? The Earth Escape technique is the most convenient among the Five Elements Escape Techniques, whether for attacking, escaping, or hiding, its an excellent choice. Peach Blossom Leaf wanted to learn the Earth Escape technique, but it was too difficult, and she never managed to master it. But why do I feel that Junior Brother Lus Earth Escape technique is somewhat different from what I learned? As Peach Blossom Leaf murmured to herself, she saw a willow tree rising from the ground. It was sessful on the first try?! Peach Blossom Leaf eximed. It took her four willow seeds to seed when she was practicing. Huh? Peach Blossom Leaf rubbed her eyes, thinking she saw it wrong. The willow tree rose from the ground, with two Junior Brother Lus hanging from its branches. Lu Yang, hanging on the willow tree with a disheartened expression, swayed back and forth. Where did the practice go wrong this time? Why did nting one willow seed result in a tree growing two of me? (End of the chapter) Chapter 153: The Human Vegetable Chapter 153: The Human Vegetable Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii (TL Note: The title uses the word for a person in a vegetative state where a person is awake but is showing no signs of awareness.) Legend has it that at the beginning of the Great Yu Dynasty, there was a genius who had a natural affinity for techniques, capable of quickly learning any technique, with a talent close to that of an immortal. This genius grew at a pace beyond everyones imagination,pleting in the shortest time the realms that other cultivators spend their entire lives pursuing, bing a Tribtion Crossing Stage master, known as the True Lord of Ten Thousand Laws. Ancient records state that when the True Lord of Ten Thousand Laws was young, he learned the technique of tree nting. In just half an hour, he mastered the technique that took others days or even months to learn. The True Lord of Ten Thousand Laws nted a willow seed, which took root upon touching the ground, grew into a robust tree, flowered, and bore fruit, bing a beautiful tale passed down through ages to this day. Peach Blossom Leafpared the True Lord of Ten Thousand Laws with Lu Yang and felt that Lu Yang was still a cut above. In half an hour, Lu Yang grasped the essence, used the earth escape technique to nt trees, and the willow tree grew rapidly, flowered, and produced two Lu Yangs. Senior Brother Lu is still more impressive. There were two people on the willow tree, one was Lu Yang, and the other was also Lu Yang. One Lu Yang was the original, while the other Lu Yang wore clothes made of willow leaves, at the cost of not a single leaf remaining on the willow tree; they all went to clothe Lu Yangs clone. Where did I practice wrong? Lu Yang persevered in searching for the problem. The result was the same as before, with no reason found. Lu Yang, youve be a human vegetable! Evesting Fairy eximed with schadenfreude. Shut up, Lu Yangs face darkened, Letse down for now. Lu Yang moved his body a bit, which didnt affect much. He cut off the willow branch behind his neck andnded on the ground with a grunt. He looked towards his other self, trying to control him with his mind, and indeed, the others fingers moved slightly. Under Lu Yangs control, the human vegetable also cut off the willow branch behind his neck and sessfullynded on the ground. The two Lu Yangs detached from the willow tree, which quickly withered, shrinking back into a willow seed, only the willow seed hadpletely lost its vitality and could not grow again. Lu Yang controlled his clones movements, initially unskilled but gradually bing adept, managing to multitask, moving himself while controlling the clone. Hehe, you have me to thank for this! Evesting Fairy imed credit. You can control another clone because you have opened up a mental space, and your mental power is much stronger than that of the Foundation Building stage. Think about it, how did you open up the mental space initially? Lu Yang thought for a moment and said seriously, It was because you, Fairy, wanted to possess me, forcibly entered my body, and opened up the mental space. Evesting Fairys pretty face darkened, emphasizing, I was pretending, I told you that was all an act! Lu Yang felt that with Evesting Fairys intelligence, it indeed was an act initially. Lu Yang continued to explore the clone, which could only move within a twenty-meter range. Once beyond twenty meters, he could no longer sense the clones presence. Twenty meters was precisely the range of Lu Yangs mental power. Within these twenty meters, only within ten meters was the control precise; beyond ten meters, the control weakened with distance. Lu Yangs clone was not sturdy, just like the willow wood. Is it because the willow wood is amon material, so its not sturdy? Lu Yang wanted to try a real spiritual nt, but he had not collected any tree seeds before and had no suitable materials at hand. Senior Brother Lu, try this peach tree seed, its not amon item? Peach Blossom Leaf, seeing Lu Yangs difficulty, kindly handed him a seed. Peach Blossom Leaf eagerly observed Lu Yang, very fond of exploring new things and unsolved mysteries, and the most intriguing mystery for her right now was Lu Yang. This is too much, how many contribution points? Ill buy it. Bing a spy for the demonic sect gave him a lot of contribution points, and Lu Yang hadnt spent them all up to now. No need, this is a peach tree seed from the Dust-Free Peak, its free. Lu Yang remembered Peach Blossom Leafs kindness and attempted to nt the peach tree. The peach tree seed was buried in the soil, and he activated the tree nting technique, but nothing happened. Do I have to use the Shrinking Earth technique? Lu Yang wondered, as he had used it when nting the willow seed. Shrinking Earth. Lu Yang shrank into the earth, operated the tree nting technique, and it indeed worked. A robust peach tree broke through the soil in front of Peach Blossom Leaf, bearing two Lu Yangs on it, one the real Lu Yang and one a vegetable Lu Yang, with pink blush smeared on his cheeks. Lu Yang twitched at the corner of his eye: Howe this peach tree evenes with coloring? Never mind, as long as it works. Lu Yang controlled his vegetable self to move and rejoiced in his heart. He could clearly feel that the body strength of the vegetable Lu Yang had changed, approximately seventy to eighty percent of his own strength. This was already quite impressive. Think about it, during battle, using the tree nting technique to produce two of oneself, with the newly emerged self having seventy to eighty percent of ones strength, and cooperating seamlessly with oneself, instantly boosting battle power and catching the enemy off guard. Peach Blossom Leaf also noticed this and admired Senior Brother Lu. The True Lord of Ten Thousand Laws was a genius, but he just followed the footsteps of his predecessors, earnestly practicing the tree nting technique without innovation. Look at Senior Brother Lu, who has forcibly trained it into an attack-type Technique, and with very strong attack power at that! At this moment, Sixth Elder silently watched Lu Yang from the sky and turned to leave. Originally, she thought if Lu Yang had any questions that Peach Blossom Leaf couldnt answer, she coulde down to answer them, fulfilling her duty as a senior. Now, seeing the situation, she thought it best to leave the answering to Little Yun and not overstep her role. Little Yun said Lu Yangs talent in the Dao is enough to establish a sect Sixth Elder expressed skepticism towards this. His talent is indeed high, but to say establishing a sect, could his disciples learn it? Lu Yang was engrossed in cultivation, bing more proficient in using the human vegetable, while Peach Blossom Leaf observed by the side, gaining a deeper understanding of the tree nting technique. Of course, it was about the normal tree nting technique. As evening approached, Lu Yang felt embarrassed to stay at Dust-Free Peak any longer. He said goodbye to Peach Blossom Leaf and went to the mission hall to exchange for some items. He couldnt always use Peach Blossom Leafs seeds and needed to buy some for backup. Evesting Fairy wholeheartedly agreed with this, finally able to shop to her hearts content. After Lu Yang left, Peach Blossom Leafs expression changed. She felt an inexplicable oppression, a suffocating pressure. Danger! She helplessly turned her head and transmitted a message to her master: Master, could you give me a heads-up before youe? Its not easy for me to hold my breath every time. Sixth Elder stood behind Peach Blossom Leaf with an innocent expression. I forgot youre not yet at the Golden Core stage. Sixth Elder subconsciously thought all her disciples were at the Golden Core stage. Peach Blossom Leaf: Is this karma? Teasing Senior Brother Lu about his low cultivation in the morning, and now its my turn in the evening. Sixth Elder didnt forget the purpose of her visit: Do you have feelings for Lu Yang? Peach Blossom Leafs cheeks rapidly turned red. Although she was usually forthright, when it came to this question, whether she liked him or not, she was unwilling to discuss it with her master: Master, what are you talking about? My interactions with Senior Brother Lu are normal. Sixth Elder continued to transmit: Some days ago, Hongxia kept asking me what kind of person Lu Yang is. I suspect she heard that Lu Yang is an outstanding kid and wants to introduce her excellent disciple Lan Ting to Lu Yang. If you have feelings for him, you should be careful. Sixth Elder looked certain of her conjecture. Luo Hongxia, the pce master of Moon Laurel Immortal Pce. Peach Blossom Leaf rolled her eyes but said nothing. To outsiders, the long, silent stare between master and disciple was a very strange scene. Of course, from another perspective, it could also be interpreted as the master and disciple having a tacit understanding, everything understood without words. (End of the chapter) Chapter 154: Yellow Bean Shopping Chapter 154: Yellow Bean Shopping Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii When Lu Yang arrived at the mission hall, it was already deep into the night, and the vast hall had only a few people in it. ording to Lu Yangs understanding, his senior brothers and sisters had regr routines. They worked hard during the day toplete tasks, y demons, and defend the righteous path. At night, they either yed joyfully or meditated and rested. Of course, the joyful y mentioned here is not the worldly understanding of indulgence in food and drink, but rather enjoying drinks and music while engaging in duels, not neglecting rest and cultivation. Thus, the mission hall was not very crowded at this time. Lu Yang scrolled through the exchange column, selecting those spirit tree seeds that were of good quality but not expensive. Phillyrea tree, pomegranate tree, apple tree Lu Yang browsed through the seeds, not very satisfied with any of them. The quality and price were eptable, but theycked character. Why even look at the price? You can spend my contribution points however you like! Evesting Fairy was as generous as ever. She had just checked her contribution points,pared the price list, and felt confident and spirited, thinking that this Dao Seeking Sect was nothing much. Lu Yang did not have the habit of living off others, and taking advantage of fools did not sit well with him either. Evesting Fairy puffed her cheeks and stared at Lu Yang, able to vaguely sense some of his thoughts in the spiritual space. For a moment just now, Lu Yang was disrespectful to the immortal! Lu Yang continued selecting seeds: Coconut tree, durian tree Bodhi tree, the Bodhi tree seeds are good! The Bodhi tree has a special significance in Buddhism, with many legends involving it. Lu Yang felt the Bodhi tree was very suitable for his genius identity. Its you, Bodhi tree seeds. Lu Yang bought ten Bodhi tree seeds. When it was Evesting Fairys turn, she saw a dazzling array of exchange items, her eyes gleaming, unsure of what to buy. Buy some heavenly materials and earthly treasures that can restore strength? If Evesting Fairy could return to her ancient state, Lu Yang would have a great support. Backed by the Eldest Senior Sister and Evesting Fairy, wouldnt the cultivation world be at hismand? Evesting Fairy disdainfully said, What are you talking about? I am an immortal, do you understand, the pinnacle of cultivators. How many heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the world are worthy of my use? Her implication was that there was nothing on the exchange list that could restore her strength. Then how about two pellets of Beautifying Elixir? Let alone the fact that my beauty is evesting, without ws or blemishes, and I do not age, I am only sixteen years old, why would I need a Beautifying Elixir? Lu Yang thought the fairy was exaggerating. Even if she said she was six with rapid physical development, he would believe it. Lu Yang stopped giving suggestions to the fairy: You pick whatever you like. This blind box looks good, only two hundred contribution points each, with a chance to win rare techniques, spells, millennia-old heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and other precious items! Lu Yangs eyelid twitched. Who came up with this idea? He wanted to persuade her otherwise, but seeing Evesting Fairys excitement, he knew it was probably futile. Lu Yang, use your body for a moment, Ill buy fifty blind boxes! Evesting Fairy, being only a soul, could not make purchases directly and needed to temporarily possess Lu Yang. Lu Yang sighed and let the fairy use his body. Ten thousand contribution points were spent without even blinking an eye, while the contribution points Lu Yang and his twopanions had earned from infiltrating the demonic cult barely totaled eight thousand five hundred. Evesting Fairy, holding fifty blind boxes, wobbled to a corner of the hall and sat down to slowly open the boxes. In fact, she could have known everything with a sweep of her immortal sense, but Evesting Fairy thought that would lose the sense of novelty, preferring to open them one by one instead. Little bear doll, little dog doll, lollipop, big iron pot What is all this stuff, where are the promised precious items? Evesting Fairy felt she had been duped. Lu Yang thought to himself, I knew this would be the oue. It was uncertain whether Evesting Fairy was lucky, or the person who put together the blind boxes had a conscience, but Evesting Fairy actually managed to find some good items. Resurrection Pill, when on the brink of death and the soul has left the body, taking this pill can call back the soul and save a life. A life-saving medicine, but it was of no use to either Lu Yang or Evesting Fairy. Even if Lu Yang was on the brink of death and his soul attempted to leave his body, Evesting Fairy could grab his ankle and pull him back. And needless to say, Evesting Fairy herself faced no possibility of being on her deathbed. Barely a gain, lets pack it up. Evesting Fairy instinctively wanted to put it into Lu Yangs identity jade, but the identity jade could recognize souls, which Evesting Fairy couldnt use. Evesting Fairy could force it open, but there was no need. When she returned the body to Lu Yang, she would let him pack it away. Corpse Destroying Powder, sprinkle the powder on a corpse, and the body will dissolve into dense water. Wash it away with water, and this person will no longer exist in this world. Note: Can only destroy the bodies of those at the Golden Core stage and below. Lu Yangs eyelid twitched slightly, repeatedly reminding himself that the Dao Seeking Sect is a righteous sect, and the Corpse Destroying Powder is for defeating enemies and eliminating hidden dangers, to be used only as ast resort. Mountain and River Contemtion Chart, contemting this chart can expand the spiritual space and enhance mental power. Author, Ji Hongwen. Ji Hongwen is a disciple of the fourth elder, a Confucian cultivator skilled in the art of painting, and belonged to the same generation as the Eldest Senior Sister and Dai Bufan. Lu Yangs eyes lit up, this was a good item. His current mental power had reached the limit of the Foundation Establishment stage, and further improvement would damage the spiritual space. Once he reached thete Foundation Establishment stage, he could further enhance his mental power. Evesting Fairy sneered, using Lu Yangs body to pat her chest: Why bother with such contemtion, its inefficient and not useful. When you reach thete Foundation Establishment stage, just contemte me. I am a genuine fairy chart, the effect will definitely be better than some unknown contemtion chart! Seal Lips Pill, after taking this pill, one will not confess under severe torture or seduction! Automatic Writing Formation, if you are punished by your elders to copy scriptures or techniques, this formation can mimic handwriting and help you with the punishment! Lu Yang sighed, It seems the senior brothers and sisters invented this formation to save trouble. No, wait! Evesting Fairy noticed something odd, This automatic writing formation has a backdoor, once used, it will be discovered by the elders! Lu Yang: Well, then, was this thing invented by the Dao Seeking Sect elders to fish for offenders? He knew it, these elders might seem carefree on the surface, but when ites to scheming, each is more capable than thest! After opening all the blind boxes, overall, the ten thousand contribution points were somewhat wasted. However, Evesting Fairy didnt care; she was very fond of the little bear doll and little dog doll from the beginning and thought about simting them in the spiritual spaceter. In the spiritual space, Evesting Fairy could simte anything. What interesting thing should I buy Evesting Fairy, who wasvish with contribution points, wanted to spend them all at once. This is it, three of these! Evesting Fairy made a decision, these three exchange coupons would almost exactly spend all the contribution points. Lu Yang had a bad feeling, what kind of exchange coupon was so expensive? He carefully examined the three exchange coupons, which read: One-Day Sect Master Experience in Dao Seeking Sect (End of the chapter) Chapter 155: Isnt That Convenient? Chapter 155: Isnt That Convenient? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The One-Day Sect Master Experience in Dao Seeking Sect exchange coupon, the most expensive exchange reward on the list, has not yet been affordable for any disciple to date. Five senior brothers tried to pool resources to exchange for it, and even got into a fight over who would be the sect leader, resulting in injuries and a stay in Pellet Cauldron Peak. After recovering, they felt too embarrassed by the incident and went on long-term missions outside, not having returned to this day. Of course, a disciple like Dai Bufan could definitely afford it, but due to his special identity, managing the mission hall on behalf of the Grand Elder, he could not make the exchange. Immortal, wouldnt you consider choosing another reward? Lu Yang kindly advised. Evesting Fairy raised her eyebrows: What, he Daoist Non-Speaker can be the sect leader, but I cannot? Let me tell you, in ancient times, I was revered by countless tribes as a deity. Whats so difficult about managing a mere Dao Seeking Sect? No, what I mean is that its Eldest Senior Sister who currently manages the Dao Seeking Sect. If you want to be the sect leader for three days, you need Eldest Senior Sisters approval. Can we back out now? I mean, what does it matter, could I possibly be afraid of a little girl? Evesting Fairy instinctively chickened out for a moment, but the dignity of an immortal gave her confidence and bravado. Evesting Fairy, controlling Lu Yangs body, turned around and headed back to Heavens Gate Peak. After arriving at Heavens Gate Peak, Lu Yang kindly reminded, Eldest Senior Sister is in another direction; this is the way back to my cave dwelling. Evesting Fairy frowned: And you call yourself her junior brother, not considering her at all. That youngdy works hard every day, and now its sote, how can we disturb her? Well talk tomorrow! Lu Yang thought to himself that Eldest Senior Sister transcends the Three Realms and is not constrained by the five elements; what concept of day and night could she have? Little ahem, Eldest Senior Sister, I wish to be the sect leader for three days, please approve. Evesting Fairy submitted the application she had written overnight. Yun Zhi was dealing with sect affairs, emanating a keep out aura. She nced at Lu Yang, immediately realizing that Evesting Fairy was temporarily using Lu Yangs body. She spoke in an even tone, As a predecessor, one of the ancient five immortals, your status is the highest in the cultivation world. Its not appropriate to call me Eldest Senior Sister; just call me Yun Zhi. Evesting Fairy carefully observed, making sure Yun Zhi wasnt speaking out of irritation, before saying, Yun Zhi, I wish to be the sect leader for three days. I spent all my contribution points to exchange for this coupon. Our Dao Seeking Sect is based on integrity, so we cant just go back on our Its allowed, Yun Zhi interrupted Evesting Fairy. Really allowed? Originally, Evesting Fairy was ready to corner Yun Zhi with rules, but it turned out there was no need. Really. The rules are as such, and I naturally must adhere to them. Otherwise, how can Imand respect? Which days do you want to be sect leader? Lets start from tomorrow. Okay. Yun Zhis tone remained as t as ever, but Lu Yang noticed, Eldest Senior Sisters mouth curved into a slight smile! Theres a catch! Yun Zhi handed the affairs she was dealing with to Evesting Fairy: Then the matter of hosting the Five Elements Sect will be troubling the predecessor. The Five Elements Sect, one of the Five Great Immortal Sects. Five, Five Elements Sect? Evesting Fairy looked down at the paper Yun Zhi gave her, which was an invitation from the Five Elements Sect stating they would visit the Dao Seeking Sect in three days for personnel exchange, followed by a list of visiting members. Another paper was the hosting n Yun Zhi was writing, with just a title written on it. Lu Yang had heard that there was a tradition of mutual visits among the Five Great Immortal Sects. Though termed visits, they were essentiallypetitions among disciples to see who could outperform the others. The rewards were secondary; the main concern was the loss of face for the losers. Yun Zhi rescued Lu Yang from Daoist Non-Speakers clutches partly for this reason, allowing Lu Yang, as a promising new talent, topete with outstanding disciples from the Five Elements Sect and gain some exposure. Yellow Bean was somewhat taken aback. She had thought it would be nice to y the role of the sect leader for three days, as the Dao Seeking Sect usually had no major events. She had not anticipated the visit of a brotherly sect. Yellow Bean considered backing out. She had never organized such arge event; in ancient times, the most she did was gather the other four immortals for some merrymaking. But immortals have their dignity, and their word must be kept! Being a sect leader, how hard could it be? If something goes wrong, its Lu Yang who will be embarrassed! Hey, hey, hey, Immortal, youre saying your inner thoughts out loud! Lu Yang eximed angrily. Then, Lu Yang thought of another issue: Eldest Senior Sister, the Immortals existence must remain a secret. How do we exin my bing the sect leader? Where did I get so many contribution points? Why wouldnt you have them? You found our missing master of ten years, a great merit. Yun Zhi spoke in her usual tone, leaving Lu Yang unsure if Eldest Senior Sister was being sincere or sarcastic. In any case, Evesting Fairy truly became the acting sect leader, starting from tomorrow, for a period of three days, coinciding with the visit from the Five Elements Sect on the third day. Evesting Fairy returned the body to Lu Yang, who felt a warmth around his waist. Whats happening? It was the Helmsman token. The token blinked three times, indicating that the contact person, Tang Yunsheng, was looking for him. The meeting ce had already been set when they infiltrated the Dao Seeking Sect. Ah, can I meet my followers now? Evesting Fairy said happily. Lu Yang informed Eldest Senior Sister, who responded simply, Go meet him. Ill be watching in secret. Lu Yang felt reassured. At the entrance of the Dao Seeking Sect, he met Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone. It seems Tang Yunsheng called all three of them. Should we go straight there? Meng Jingzhou asked, wanting to know what Lu Yang intended. Lu Yang sped his hands and lifted them above his head, shaking them, Eldest Senior Sister is nearby. Then theres no problem. The Dao Seeking Sect was surrounded by many towns and viges, and Tang Yunsheng chose a small town for the meeting ce. Tang Yunsheng, dressed in a ck robe, seemed mysterious but was very conspicuous in the town, as if afraid others wouldnt notice he was trying to hide his identity. Several passersby considered reporting him to the Dao Seeking Sect, too suspicious. Tang Yunsheng looked satisfied seeing the three of them: Your names are on the Dao Seeking Sects recruitment list, saying you three opened a barbecue shop in the Dao Seeking Sect. Youve finally infiltrated the Dao Seeking Sect, well done! No need to ask, this was a fake list arranged by Dai Bufan. Atst, my Undying Sect has its spies within the Dao Seeking Sect! Tang Yunsheng was very moved, as if achieving a lifelong goal. The Sect Leader never expected things to go so smoothly! Tang Yunsheng changed the topic, sighing, Unfortunately, the situation isnt good for the other three immortal gates. Whats wrong with the other three immortal gates? Lu Yang asked as the Undying Sects Sect Leader. For some reason, those three gates have be sharp, capturing all our Undying Sect spies cleanly, even using the name of Evesting Celestial, quite malicious and difficult to guard against! The other three demonic sects didnt fare any better, losing many spies as well. What should we do? Lu Yang was somewhat anxious, feeling responsible as the sect leader for so many of his people being captured. No matter, we must look forward. A temporary failure means nothing. Tang Yunsheng was invigorated, Thest message from our spy in the Five Elements Sect said they would visit the Dao Seeking Sect in three days. This is an opportunity for us! The Sect Leader senses that Evesting Celestial is awakening. Our Undying Sects rise is just around the corner. We can use this exchange meeting to cause trouble, letting the Five Great Immortal Sects know, the Undying Sect is not to be trifled with! With you three as insiders, this n is sure to seed! Lu Yang and the others nodded. In the spiritual space, Evesting Fairy nodded. In the shadows, Eldest Senior Sister also nodded. (End of the chapter) Chapter 156: The Cautious Barbarian Bone Chapter 156: The Cautious Barbarian Bone Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii When both the righteous and demonic paths agree on a matter, any previous obstacles be the driving force for the present. The actual controllers and event organizers of the Dao Seeking Sect have already agreed to Tang Yunshengs proposal. It was a foolproof n. How should we proceed? Contact the other three demonic sects, bring out our trump card immortal treasures, stage a rebellion, overthrow the Dao Seeking Sects base, capture the eight elders, take control of the entire Dao Seeking Sect, and then push across the four major immortal gates and The Great Xia Dynasty, unify the Central Continent, then turn on the other three demonic sects, unite the four major demonic sects into one, establish the Immortal Sect, take advantage in the great era struggle, be immortals and ancestors, living freely and at ease? Lu Yang enthusiastically suggested. As the Sect Leader of the Undying Sect, Lu Yang needed to have a broad vision, carefully n, and strategize for the future of the Undying Sect. Hey, youre just our sects helmsman, right? Evesting Fairy protested in the spiritual space. Thats not how you should put it. Immortal, think about it, if you were to choose between me and the Undying Sect Sect Leader, who would you choose as the sect leader? Id choose you. Evesting Fairy didnt hesitate, of course, she would choose someone she knew. See, that settles it. As the source of faith, youve recognized me as the sect leader, which means Im the legitimate sect leader, and the current one is an imposter. Evesting Fairy nodded, feeling Lu Yang made a lot of sense: Makes sense, then I hereby appoint you as the Sect Leader of the Undying Sect! Tang Yunsheng was startled by Lu Yangs n, this kid really dared to dream big: No, no, no, its not that exaggerated. Our Undying Sect hasnt nned that far yet, and this operation involves only our Undying Sect. Lu Yang appeared very disappointed; the Undying Sectcked ambition. So, what are we nning to do in the Dao Seeking Sect? Meng Jingzhou asked. After pondering for a moment, Tang Yunsheng replied: We still dont know the exact process of how the Dao Seeking Sect will host the Five Elements Sect, but I can roughly guess what the steps will be. For example, the first step is definitely a weing ceremony, which often includes speeches by the leaders of both sides, performances, dining, drinking, etc Evesting Fairy hurriedly took notes; she was worried about how to n the hosting, and now someone had delivered the n to her. Good follower, I appoint you as the vice sect leader. Vice Sect Leader Tang Yunsheng continued: Then there will bepetitions, where both sides send their elite disciples topete, setting thepetition rules, scope, and prizes. The closing ceremony is our opportunity. After experiencing the weing ceremony and the elite disciplepetition, people will feel very tired, unconsciously lowering their vignce and defense. Thats when those of us hiding in the shadows make our move, tricking the Dao Seeking Sect, letting the righteous path know the might of our Undying Sect, glorifying the power of Evesting Celestial! Lu Yang was shocked: As far as I know, the eight elders of the Dao Seeking Sect are either in thete Unity stage or at the peak of Unity, with few rivals at their level, not to mention the powers of the Five Elements Sect. Facing such opponents, can we still seed in a surprise attack, is the Sect Leader going to take action?! Tang Yunsheng shook his head: The Sect Leader, overseeing the whole situation, will not make a move. This ns organizers and executors are two vice sect leaders and five high-ranking officials, who will use the immortal treasure, the Yellow Millet Pillow, to pull everyone into a dream. At that time, we control the dream, able to mold them at will! (TL Note it might be a reference to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BC_Dongbin#Yellow_Millet_Dream) The Undying Sect has one Sect Leader and three Vice Sect Leaders. In fact, Tang Yunsheng heard that the Sect Leader was seriously injured and recuperating, unable to attend to other matters, and unaware of the n to attack the Dao Seeking Sect. However, there was no need to discuss such morale-dampening matters with these three. With this in mind, Tang Yunsheng smirked coldly. In the dream realm, whether the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect live or die would entirely depend on their mood! Even if they couldnt injure the elders or highly skilled disciples, ughtering a batch of potential elite disciples would be more than enough! The Yellow Millet Pillow? Isnt that the pillow I use for sleeping? Evesting Fairy was surprised; these people really were her followers, still possessing her relics. Lu Yang was more astonished than Evesting Fairy: Immortals need to sleep? Evesting Fairy displeasedly retorted: Why cant immortals sleep? Anyway, Ive reached the peak of my cultivation. Meditating doesnt umte any more power, so why cant I enjoy myself? Lu Yang actually found Evesting Fairys argument quite reasonable. Meng Jingzhou then asked, How will the vice sect leader and other high-ranking members enter the Dao Seeking Sect? Tang Yunsheng had already thought of a way: You just give a heads up to the manager, saying that the barbecue business will be too busy during the exchange between the two sects, and you need to find some outsiders to help temporarily. Ive looked into it; this kind of thing happens often during such events, and they generally agree. The vice sect leader and the others will carry a talisman that can temporarily hide their cultivation levels, enough to deceive the Dao Seeking Sect! The three nodded; the Undying Sect had really thought of everything. At that moment, Barbarian Bone raised a very meticulous question: But can the vice sect leader and the others actually grill skewers? Tang Yunsheng was taken aback, having not considered this problem, but he couldnt show uncertainty in front of these three, so he nodded confidently, saying: Youve thought this through well. However, the vice sect leader and the others are capable of great feats; grilling skewers, frying dishes, washing dishes, and cleaning up are all within their capabilities. Your concern is unnecessary. The four then agreed on some details regarding the various possibilities during the exchange meeting. Evesting Fairy listened intently, roughly understanding how to organize the event. After seeing Lu Yang and the others off, Tang Yunsheng turned and left, running for a couple of hours to reach a secret base. Little Tang, youre back. How did the briefing go? a young man asked with a smile. He seemed young but was old enough to be Tang Yunshengs ancestor. Replying to Vice Sect Leader Liu, Ive finished briefing them. It seems those three are doing well in the Dao Seeking Sect, obtaining many useful pieces of information. However, Barbarian Bone noticed a detail that was overlooked. What? Vice Sect Leader Liu frowned; they had worked through the n all night, and it should have been foolproof. Tang Yunsheng cautiously spoke up, observing the others reaction: You and others apparently dont know how to grill skewers. Vice Sect Leader Liu exploded with anger, emitting a terrifying aura: Nonsense, what kind of status do we have, to actually grill skewers ourselves?! Tang Yunsheng advised: But think about it, our base in the Dao Seeking Sect is a barbecue restaurant, and were going in under the guise of helpers. If we cant grill skewers, it might give us away! Vice Sect Leader Liu calmed down, seeing some sense in Tang Yunshengs words, and gruffly said: Go buy some meat, bamboo skewers, charcoal, and other barbecue supplies, and find a master skewer griller for us to learn from. Understood. After Tang Yunsheng left, Vice Sect Leader Lius lips curled into a cruel sneer: Ive heard that the barbecue restaurant those three opened in Yanjiang County is very popr. Heh, I didnt want to learn, but if I really put my mind to it, how hard can barbecuing be? (End of the chapter) Chapter 157: How Did the Five Elements Sect Lose The Last Time? Chapter 157: How Did the Five Elements Sect Lose The Last Time? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Returning to the Dao Seeking Sect from Tang Yunshengs ce, Eldest Senior Sister remained silent the entire way, probably feeling it unnecessary to worry about such matters, leaving everything to Evesting Fairy and Lu Yang to handle. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone didnt ask further, believing that with Eldest Senior Sister backing them, nothing would go wrong. After returning to the Dao Seeking Sect, Evesting Fairy focused on nning the reception process. The sect leaders speech at the wee ceremony so troublesome. Lu Yang, can you write it? If you help me write it, Ill teach you an immortal technique. Evesting Fairy, feeling headache from the nning, sought help from her reliable assistant, Lu Yang. Lu Yang chuckled: If its a cookbook, Ill pass. What are you saying, whats wrong with this immortals cooking skills? Lu Yang didnt respond, just rolled his eyes to show his stance. Having no choice, Evesting Fairy had to buckle down and write it herself, spending half a day to squeeze out two sentences: Wee to the Five Elements Sect. Feel free to enjoy yourselves. Lu Yang: Never mind, Ill help you write it. Really? Evesting Fairys eyes lit up upon hearing Lu Yang agree to help, handing over the task of writing the speech to him and focusing on what to serve for the reception meal instead. Lu Yang had no choice but to help, or else hed be the one embarrassedter. This is the first time Im hosting arge event; it should be grand. To show how seriously I take this event, Ill cook the meals myself! Evesting Fairy was spirited, wanting to show the world that her cooking skills as Yellow Bean could rival those of a Tribtion Crossing Stage spiritual chef! Lu Yang just hoped she wouldnt rival a Tribtion Crossing Stage poison master. Evesting Fairy also devised a n to deal with the Undying Sect: As my followers, if they dont help me, its fine, but daring to cause trouble, not a single one will get away! After a full days work, the two finally drafted the event n and presented it to Eldest Senior Sister for review. After reading it, Eldest Senior Sister didnt have much to say, onlymenting that it was fine: From today on, the predecessor is the acting sect leader of the Dao Seeking Sect. I have informed the eight elders, and they have agreed to cooperate with Lu Yangs work. The elders were unaware of Evesting Fairys existence. Lu Yang gathered the eight elders to discuss the wee ceremony process. Is it me or her whos the sect leader? Lu Yang felt he was doing quite a bit of work. Whats there to be dissatisfied about? Without me, could you have exchanged for a One-Day Sect Master Experience in Dao Seeking Sect coupon? This is a chance, no, an immortal opportunity I generously bestowed upon you! Evesting Fairy thought Lu Yang was ungrateful. In ancient times, everyone wanted to be the leader. Ying Tian Immortal and the others each controlled at least tens of thousands of life stars, not counting the mining stars, gravity stars, dead stars, and other utilitarian stars! They fought over more stars, and I mediated several times! How many life stars did you control? One. Why so few? Im just not good at managing people. If it werent for Ying Tian Immortal and the others saying an immortal should have a territory, saying itd be shameful otherwise, and forcibly giving me one, Id reluctantly epted one. After giving it to me, I found a cultivator with strong management skills to manage that star. I asionally visit the mortal realm to see how its managed. What did you do after bing an immortal? Shopping, visiting friends, cooking, sleeping. Are you a human or a salted fish spirit? Evesting Fairy was displeased: Have you seen a salted fish spirit as beautiful as me? Now I have. I also often secretly follow them, observing their movements and range of activities. Lu Yang thought, finally something that sounded like ancient times; was she nning to ambush them, reducing the number of immortals? Whats this for? To avoid running into them. For instance, if I attend an auction and some shortsighted person unts their identity, saying theyre the son of some tribes chieftain, sayingpeting with them is disrespecting their tribe, then I stand up, revealing my immortal status, scaring them to the point of trembling. Otherwise, its about stepping in to mediate when two tribes sh. Neither side recognizes me, and they disdainfully ask who I think I am. Thats when I release my immortal aura, which works remarkably well, with both sides inviting me to their tribes as a guest. Or it could be someone provoking me, and I send them flying with a p. They bring their backer, who brings an army to surround me. Then, their ancestor recognizes me, eximing, You, youre Evesting Fairy, and falls to their knees, begging for my forgiveness. Based on my experience, the effect is best when I am the only immortal present. (TL Note: These are all topes in cultivation novels) Lu Yangs eyelid twitched, realizing Evesting Fairys immortal life was indeed full of color and not that of a salted fish spirit. While they spoke, the eight elders gradually entered the room, and Lu Yang specifically noticed the eighth elder, seeing him for the first time. We greet the acting sect master, the eight elders said, bowing. Come, let me chair the meeting! Evesting Fairy pushed Lu Yang aside, taking over the body. She wanted to be the sect leader for this very moment of indulgence. My dear officials, rise. Lu Yang covered his face, regretting ever calling out Evesting Fairys true name. Initially, he thought Evesting Fairy was a golden finger, but now he realized her only uses were to tell ancient dark histories and embarrass him. The elders were somewhat unustomed to Lu Yangs demeanor, but then remembered he was Daoist Non-Speakers disciple, and it all made sense. Acting Sect Master, let me pour you some water. A familiar and indifferent voice came from behind Lu Yang, causing Evesting Fairy to break out in a cold sweat. Eldest Senior Sister, holding a teapot, poured water for Evesting Fairy with perfect grace, making one marvel at how wless Yun Zhi was in everything she did. As Yun Zhi bent to pour water, she gave Evesting Fairy a cold look. Evesting Fairy quickly nodded, indicating she would definitely behave and not cause any trouble. Theirmunication required no mind-reading, relying solely on eye contact. Evesting Fairy got serious, cleared her throat, and said, You all must be aware that the day after tomorrow, the Five Elements Sect will visit our Dao Seeking Sect. Ive gathered you here for this matter. Any thoughts? The eldest elder was the mostposed: The visitors bear ill intentions. Why do you say that? The Five Elements Sect has visited us once before. ording to tradition, it should be our turn to visit them next. Their breaking of tradition to visit us again can only mean one thing: they want to avenge their previous loss and defeat us on our ground! Evesting Fairy hadnt considered this aspect: ording to the elders views, what should we do? The second elder gestured a slicing motion across his neck: Ambush them on the road, beat them up while masked, and make them retreat. Dont worry, Im experienced. My operations are clean, leaving no loose ends for anyone to trace back to me. The other elders nodded in agreement, endorsing the second elders suggestion. Ive had enough of the Five Elements Sect. After losingst time, they even said our Dao Seeking Sect doesnt belong to the natures five elements. What kind of reasoning is that! Lets show them, let them know the strength of our Dao Seeking Sect! Ever since Little Qiu became the sect leader, hes changed. He mustve forgotten what happened when he was young and challenged our Dao Seeking Sects Nine! Evesting Fairy was curious: How did the Five Elements Sect losest time? The eighth elder exined: Oh, it was simple. They came over, proposing apetition between disciples, stating elders couldnt interfere, and wanted our best disciple to fight their best. And then? Then Little Yun stepped in. Evesting Fairy suddenly turned to look at the expressionless Eldest Senior Sister, almost forgetting that she was considered a disciple too. The eldest elder sighed: Perhaps Little Yun is too powerful, making Old Qiu forget she isnt from our generation but is the disciple of the ninth. (End of the chapter) Chapter 158: Everlasting Fairys Golden Finger Chapter 158: Evesting Fairys Golden Finger Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Evesting Fairy felt that the Five Elements Sects loss was unjust; she knew exactly what level Yun Zhi was on. Once she fully recovers her strength, Yun Zhi would be qualified to be her opponent, possibly even achieving a fifty-fifty chance of winning or losing. Sending someone like her to fight the Five Elements Sect would be like bullying grandchildren; no wonder the Five Elements Sect wasnt convinced. Lu Yang thought to himself, Immortal, please stop boasting. Ying Tian Immortal is qualified to be your opponent, and so is the Nonuple Immortal. With all your abilities, how did you die in the first ce? Evesting Fairy was enjoying the feeling of being a sect leader and didnt notice the expression in Lu Yangs spiritual space. She tried to ease everyones mood: They say the Five Great Immortal Sects are as close as ones hands and feet. I think we shouldnt treat the Five Elements Sect like this. (TL Note: The idiom ͬ means that the rtionship is like hands and feet, and they cannot be separated for a day. It suggests a deep friendship, like brothers) The second elder sneered: Yes, we are the hand, and the Five Elements Sect is the foot. Hands and feet dont intersect, so where does the camaraderiee from? Evesting Fairy quietly asked the sixth elder, Feng Ya: Does the second elder have any conflict with the Five Elements Sect? The sixth elder, a spectral figure present, had no need to breathe or use thoughts tomunicate. After thinking for a moment, the sixth elder felt this was something that shouldnt be discussed but saw no reason to hide it from the acting sect master: When the second elder was young, he fell in love with a woman named Shangguan Yu and even confessed to her, but she directly rejected his feelings. The second elder also discovered Shangguan Yu speaking intimately with Qiu Jinan, looking like they were nning a lifetime together. Qiu Jinan is the current sect leader of the Five Elements Sect. Since then, the second elder has found the Five Elements Sect displeasing to the eye. Evesting Fairy frowned, recognizing the difficulty in handling such matters. She cleared her throat and said: After all, we are the hosts, and the Five Elements Sect are our guests. We should still maintain the necessary protocols and procedures when dealing with the Five Elements Sect. Ive drafted a simple event n and will need the elders cooperation. The wee ceremony will be held at the Martial Arts Square, where theres ample space and its close to our mountain peak. The core area of the Dao Seeking Sect consists of nine mountain peaks: one for the sect leader and eight for the elders. Arranged like a lotus, with the center being the most bustling and lively, featuring taverns, bookstores, clothing stores, and otherrge shops for disciples to rx and entertain themselves, as well as trial grounds and puppet fields for physical training. Among these, the Martial Arts Square upies thergest area. The Martial Arts Square is often used for disciple sparring; the entire tform is refined and durable, hard to destroy, enveloped in multipleyers of formations to prevent damage from intense collisions, and capable of self-repair if damaged. The formations also ensure that the sparring does not affect bystanders, making it a perfect venue. The fourth elder, youre the most meticulous and have some understanding of formations. Could you check the Martial Arts Squares formation for any ws or weaknesses, to see if it can withstand continuous high-intensity impacts? Okay. After the speeches from both sides conclude, it will be around noon, a good time to bond over a meal. Ivee across an immortals manual that records methods of preparing food, a rarity in this world. Ill take this opportunity to showcase it in front of the Five Elements Sect. Evesting Fairy volunteered for the cooking task. Thenes thepetition part. I initially n to divide it into four categories based on cultivation levels: Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Stage, and Spirit Transformation Stage. Evesting Fairys division was quite reasonable, preventing a situation where Yun Zhi overwhelmingly defeats everyone. Eldest elder, with the increase in patronage to ces like the tavern during the Five Elements Sects visit, there might be instances of price gouging. Please arrange for someone to patrol these areas to prevent such incidents. Also, some disciples like gambling and might take this opportunity to set up underground gambling dens. The eldest elder also needs to pay attention to this matter; close them if necessary and administer punishments as needed. Third elder, with therge influx of people during the exchange, conflicts are inevitable. Youll need to assign disciples to maintain order at the venue. Fifth elder, youre tasked with crafting four tablets that can live stream the events happening at the Martial Arts Square, allowing everyone to watch. The elders nodded, finding Evesting Fairys arrangements reasonable and thorough. Evesting Fairys tasks were well organized, thanks to her all-night effortmainly in convincing Lu Yang to lend a hand. Lu Yang had no choice but to act as the acting sect masters external brain, offering advice and strategies. Lu Yang truly was Yellow Beans golden finger, providing help at critical moments. (TL Note: Since I didnt exin it previously, golden fingers are basically cheat-like abilities the protagonists of novels have which give them an advantage, typically in cultivation or whatever the power system of the novel is. Normally the immortal in their spiritual space is the golden finger for the protagonist in regr novels but here, our protagonist is the golden finger for the immortal living in his spiritual space) Evesting Fairy continued assigning tasks: Seventh elder, you should prepare some more pills, mainly those for saving lives, healing wounds, and detoxification. The seventh elder hesitated before nodding: Of course, thats possible. However, the disciples usually exercise restraint during sparring and wont go for the kill, so these kinds of pills might not be necessary. Evesting Fairy thought about it and then asked Lu Yang in the spiritual space: Why did you have him prepare these pills? Fear of food poisoning. Evesting Fairy uttered an oh, then left the spiritual space and began to say to the seventh elder: Fear of food poi wait a minute Evesting Fairy realized what was happening, red at Lu Yang in the spiritual space, and Lu Yang innocently shrugged. After the exchange between the disciples ends, ording to the n, the Undying Sect willunch a sneak attack on us. The elders were startled. What did she mean ording to the n, the Undying Sect willunch a sneak attack? Wasnt the n hers? Evesting Fairy seriously said: We have nted a mole within the Undying Sect, someone of high rank, who has learned part of the Undying Sects n. Lu Yang thought, indeed, the mole has infiltrated deep into their ranks. Reliable information indicates that this time the Undying Sect will deploy two vice sect leaders and five high-ranking officials. The vice sect leaders of the Undying Sect are at the Unity Stage, but without immortal treasures, they wouldnt be able to make much of an impact at the Dao Seeking Sect. The Dao Seeking Sects Unity Stage isnt limited to the sect leader and the eight elders. Dao Seeking Sects Nine refers to the most outstanding nine people of that generation within the Dao Seeking Sect, not that there were only nine people in that generation. The others are either out on missions, guarding treasures within the Dao Seeking Sect, unwilling to work and in a semi-retired state, and rarely make public appearances. When the timees, Ill arrange for people to monitor the Undying Sects movements. If someone shouts attack, well all act together and capture the Undying Sects members. Dont be too harsh; try to take them alive if possible, Evesting Fairy concluded. After the meeting, the elders set off to carry out their assigned tasks. Lu Yang, with the event n in hand, left the Dao Seeking Sect to find Tang Yunsheng again. Tang Inspector, Ive brought the Dao Seeking Sects event n. These are all public information, easily obtained. Tang Yunsheng was overjoyed, but after reviewing the event n, he was puzzled. Why does this match the event n I imagined? It shows how urate your calctions were! Tang Yunsheng didnt think much of it, considering it a coincidence. Lu Yang continued: I think we should have a signal when we act, like the vice sect leader shouting attack, and then everyone moves together, catching the Dao Seeking Sect off guard! Tang Yunsheng nodded, agreeing with Lu Yangs suggestion. (End of the chapter) Chapter 159: Finally Found Who Sold the Fake Questions Back Then Chapter 159: Finally Found Who Sold the Fake Questions Back Then Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After returning to the Dao Seeking Sect, Evesting Fairy once again took over Lu Yangs body to deal with sect affairs. The Dao Seeking Sect has various matters to deal with daily, but the visit from the Five Elements Sect was given priority due to its significance. Now that tasks have been assigned, its time to handle regr issues. Evesting Fairy, sitting in the sect leaders seat, felt delighted: Lets see what matters require my decision. The Great Xia Dynasty strongly condemns the Dao Seeking Sects habit of haphazardly establishing graves. The Dao Seeking Sects eldest elder has repeatedly built graves outside of the sects territory, disrupting the archaeological work of The Great Xia Dynasty. Attached were detailed ounts of the incident, mentioning an old farmer who identally discovered a grave. The imperial court sent people to investigate and believed the graves style was ancient, resembling those from the Da Yu Dynasty era, constructed by someone at the Unity Stage. As the archaeological work continued, the contents of the tomb overturned peoples understanding of the Da Yu Dynastys graves, marking a significant discovery. After a long period of excavation, The Great Xia finally unearthed the tomb, only to find the eldest elder sleeping inside the coffin. All the effort was for the eldest elders unauthorized construction of a grave, even styled after the Da Yu Dynasty era, nearly infuriating The Great Xia Dynasty. The earthworm couple in the medicinal garden split into two each, believing they are four independent beings, no longer bound by their original rtionship. All four wish to marry simultaneously, with the males as the big and small husbands and the females as the big and small wives, nning a grand wedding in the medicinal garden? Sss Evesting Fairy leaned back, wondering if the earthworm n had always been this adventurous. Such antics were never heard of in the earthworm n during the ancient times. Evesting Fairy momentarily set aside the earthworm matter to review other documents: The Blue-Eyed Water Buffalo n proposes, given the dangerous times, even a visit home could encounter viins. They wish to concoct The Power of the Third Elder pill, to summon the third elder in critical moments to resolve dangers. Moving on to another matter. A group of sect disciples suggests restricting the third elders behavior. The mountains have owners; do not move them around just to exercise. Lu Yang had heard about this. The third elder liked to move mountains as part of his physical training. If it were just moving mountains, that would be one thing. The problem is, the third elder cant remember where the mountains originally were, often leaving disciples to find their homes gone upon returning from missions. Ah, Pellet Cauldron Peak ims to have found a method for long-distancemunication. Evesting Fairy sounded like she had discovered a treasure. Evesting Fairy didnt expect Pellet Cauldron Peak to be so creative. In ancient times, only powerful cultivators had the means tomunicate regardless of distance. Had Pellet Cauldron Peak found a way to make this widely avable? Pellet Cauldron Peak detailed their proposed solution. First, concoct two Lovesick Moonlit Elixirs. Lu Yang remembered when the Ginseng Child introduced the Lovesick Grass, briefly mentioning this item. Lovesick Moonlit Elixirs allow two people in love tomunicate irrespective of time and space. Then, concoct two Heartbreak Pills, which can force two people to fall in love. As long as they consume the Heartbreak Pill and Lovesick Moonlit Elixir, the two canmunicate over long distances. Aftermunication ends, Pellet Cauldron Peak has preliminarily developed a Forgetful Water potion, which, after consumption, can negate the effects of the Heartbreak Pill. Evesting Fairy: Lu Yang: Genius. Lu Yang felt there was a reason the alchemy world didnt recognize Pellet Cauldron Peak; with such reckless research methods, it would be strange if they acknowledged you! Evesting Fairy responded uniformly to these issues: Seen. And the response? Lu Yang quipped. I just dont know how to solve these, Evesting Fairy admitted with a troubled face. She was naturally not adept at resolving issues, let alone those of the Dao Seeking Sect. She had her way of dealing with it: Think about it, these matters arent urgent. Once these three days are over, it will be Yun Zhi, that young girl, who has to face these problems. Then, I wont have to worry about them. Lu Yang felt Evesting Fairy made some sense: Immortal, have you forgotten something? What? Eldest Senior Sister has been standing behind us all this time. Evesting Fairy broke into a cold sweat upon remembering Yun Zhi had been there all along, simply not speaking. She felt as if a pair of cold eyes were fixed on her, not daring to turn around. Sect Master, Meng Jingzhou has something to report outside! the owner of the cold eyes suddenly spoke, her tone revealing no emotion. Startled, Evesting Fairy shivered but then remembered her status as the sect master and somewhat reassured, said, Let him in. Meng Jingzhou came storming in, dragging someone alongit was the eighth elder. Lu Yang, regaining control of the body, asked with his legs crossed, Ah, its Little Meng. Lu Yang said warmly, Little Meng, dont be afraid. Whatever problem or trouble youve encountered, you can tell me. As an elder, its my duty to help the younger generation. Meng Jingzhous eye twitched, thinking, Lu Yang, youve really grown some skills. Ill see when I can exchange for a sect master experience coupon myself. Meng Jingzhou had heard that Lu Yang could exchange for a sect master experience coupon because he found the missing Daoist Non-Speaker for ten years. In that case, he could just seal Daoist Non-Speaker away, preventing him from causing trouble in the outside world. Reducing a major disaster in the cultivation world should earn him a massive amount of contribution points. However, the situation was pressing, not the time to squabble with Little Lu. I want to sue the eighth elder, Meng Jingzhou dered righteously. The eighth elder exined, feeling Meng Jingzhou misunderstood him: My nephew, its all a misunderstanding. I didnt know it was you back then. Whats the matter with the eighth elder? Lu Yang wasnt very familiar with the eighth elder yet. Do you remember our first meeting when I mentioned I bought the Dao Seeking Sects exam real questions? Lu Yang nodded; he remembered clearly. Initially, on the carriage, Meng Jingzhou didnt mention he got the real questions. Later, when Eldest Senior Sister also got on, Meng Jingzhou, betraying his principles for beauty, doomed himself by saying he had the real questions. The two even discussed how to pass the exam in front of Eldest Senior Sister. Fortunately, Eldest Senior Sister didnt mind this matter. Later, they learned that Meng Jingzhou indeed got the real questions, but they were from twenty years ago. Meng Jingzhou pointed at the eighth elder: It was him. He assured me with all confidence that these were the real questions, deceiving me of many spirit stones! In an instant, the gaze of Eldest Senior Sister, Lu Yang, and Meng Jingzhou converged on the eighth elder. Yun Zhi, aware of the eighth elders character, had long suspected him but never had evidence. The eighth elder calmly said, Thats not how you should put it. Didnt I sell you the real questions? Do you know how many people wanted to buy these questions from me twenty years ago? I didnt sell to any of them! (End of the chapter) Chapter 160: Everlasting Fairys Word Becomes Reality Chapter 160: Evesting Fairys Word Bes Reality Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Is the real question from twenty years ago not a real question? Young man, dont limit your thinking so narrowly. Have you not heard that the older something is, the higher its value? When I was tomb raiding with Old Nine, we always targeted the oldest things. We even found a treasure from the early Great Qian era, which was owned by a Tribtion Crossing Stage demon. Yun Zhi had heard a bit about this. Her master and the Eighth Elder had raided a tomb together and found an early Great Qian era treasure that could contain the waters of three rivers and fivekes, invaluable. The two of them started fighting over it then and there. Later, upon appraisal, it was discovered to be a chamber pot used by some Tribtion Crossing Stage demon. (TL Note: A chamber pot is a portable toilet, meant for nocturnal use in the bedroom. It wasmon in many cultures before the advent of indoor plumbing and flushing) The Eighth Elder continued, Go ask around outside. The Dao Seeking Sects exam questions are priceless. Im doing you a favor by selling you the real question, so dont be picky. Do you know how much risk I took to sell this set of questions? Im doing this for the profit of the Dao Seeking Sect! The Eighth Elder spoke righteously, making Lu Yang nod repeatedly in agreement: The Eighth Elder makes sense. In that case, the Eighth Elders sry should also be dyed by twenty years. That wont do, the Eighth Elder hurriedly objected. Dont worry, Eighth Elder, its not that you wont get your sry, just that it will be dyed by twenty years. Isnt a sry dyed by twenty years still a sry? Or does the Eighth Elder think the sect is in difficulty and voluntarily requests no sry? If the Eighth Elder has such noble thoughts, I will definitelymend you publicly and encourage everyone to learn from the spirit of the Eighth Elder. At this point, Yun Zhi spoke up: Eighth Elder, considering you are a friend of my master, just return the spirit stones you swindled from Meng Jingzhou, and we will let this matter rest. The Eighth Elder had no choice but to return the spirit stones begrudgingly. With the spirit stones returned, Meng Jingzhou was overjoyed. Then Yun Zhi said, Meng Jingzhou, you were also at fault for buying the real questions. As long as you hand over the money used to buy the questions to the sect, we will let this matter rest. Meng Jingzhou was dumbfounded, thinking Eldest Senior Sister was on his side. Having no choice, Meng Jingzhou had to hand over the spirit stones to the sect. Wait, what about Lu Yang? This guy discussed with me on the carriage how to deal with the examination, harboring ill intentions! Meng Jingzhou tried to drag Lu Yang down with him. Lu Yang sneered, Then go tell the Sect Leader about me! Considering the Sect Leader is not here, you can go to the acting Sect Leader. I believe the acting Sect Leader is a fair and strict person and will not favor anyone. Damn it Meng Jingzhou red at Lu Yang, thinking, wait until I be the Sect Leader, youll see! After the Eighth Elder and Meng Jingzhou left, Evesting Fairy took over Lu Yangs body again. Evesting Fairy looked at the matters that needed handling and felt that being a Sect Leader was difficult. How do the people from Ying Tian Immortal manage to control thoses when their problem-solving skills are about the same as mine? Yun Zhi sighed softly and reminded, Just as you can assign tasks to the eight elders, the Sect Leader also has the right to order disciples to do things. You can delegate the review tasks to experienced disciples. Right. Evesting Fairy realized, letting the golden boy Lu Yang handle these matters. Lu Yang took a deep breath, Doesnt it all imply that Eldest Senior Sister is suggesting she handle these matters? After going around in circles, it still ended up being the reliable Eldest Senior Sister who took care of these messy affairs. Sometimes, Lu Yang felt fortunate that the Dao Seeking Sect had Eldest Senior Sister; otherwise, the sect would have been doomed sooner orter. I wonder how the outside world views the Dao Seeking Sect. Evesting Fairy, with hands behind back, looked at the martial arts training ground being maintained, nodding frequently, like a leader inspecting the countryside. Near the training ground, there were many small tforms for disciples to spar. The Dao Seeking Sect still ces a great emphasis on practicalbat training to prevent its disciples from being bullied outside. Lu Yang felt that the higher-ups of the Dao Seeking Sect were overthinking things. At this time, on the tform, two Golden Core stage Senior Brothers and Sisters were battling, their Golden Cores full and shining brightly, clearly of the highest quality and at the peak of the Golden Core stage. Lu Yang recognized these two. The Golden Core stage Senior Brother was named Luo Hai, with a Golden Core known as the White Day Vast Sea Core, skilled in water attribute spells and having in several Nascent Soul Stage demonic cultivators. In the talent-filled Dao Seeking Sect, he was a prominent figure. The Golden Core stage Senior Sister was named Yi Jing, from the imperial citys Yi family. Although not as distinguished as Meng Jingzhous family, they were still a well-known n in the Central Continent. Senior Sister Yi Jing had an impressive experience,paring her familys ancestral techniques with various techniques from the scripture pavilion and initially modifying them to better suit herself. These two were no ordinary individuals, and their bout attracted many spectators hoping to gain insights to aid their cultivation. Evesting Fairy swaggered over, drawing some attention. To outsiders, Lu Yang was the first disciple to exchange for a Sect Leader experience coupon, which was very inspiring. Most people were focused on the battle and did not notice Evesting Fairys arrival. Watch me demonstrate what it means to fight across levels! Evesting Fairy said to Lu Yang, who had a bad feeling about this. Wait, what are you going to do Before Lu Yang could finish, Evesting Fairy controlled Lu Yangs body and jumped onto the tform. Seeing Evesting Fairy, the twobatants were curious about what this newly appointed acting Sect Leaders junior brother intended to do. I want to challenge both of you. Luo Hai and Yi Jing were stunned, then surprised, causing an uproar among the spectators. Lu Yang, only at the mid-stage of Foundation Building, was challenging two at the peak of the Golden Core stage? However, Luo Hai and Yi Jing did not refuse Lu Yangs challenge. The two stood opposite Evesting Fairy. Junior brother, you go first. Evesting Fairy revealed a smile. In the name of the acting Sect Leader, I order you two to jump off the tform. Lu Yang: Luo Hai: Yi Jing: The crowd of Senior Brothers and Sisters below: Is this how the powers of an acting Sect Leader are used? The words of the acting Sect Leader had to be obeyed, so the two did not hesitate and jumped off, losing the match. Evesting Fairys actions quickly piqued the interest of many Senior Brothers and Sisters. Brother Ma, go check out the tform. I heard Lu Yang refined the power of Word Bes Reality, defeating several Golden Core stage brothers and sisters, and even imed he wants to challenge those at the Nascent Soul Stage. Really? Brother Ma showed a keen interest. Ma Tianyang, at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage, a disciple of the Refining Artifact Peak, excelled in using fire and forging weapons. He once fought a Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator while simultaneously refining artifacts, defeating the Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator with a continuous stream of spirit treasures. Lets check it out. The disciple who encouraged Ma Tianyang revealed a triumphant smile. As Ma Tianyang approached the tform, he heard Evesting Fairy boasting loudly, Hahaha, I am invincible among the Golden Core stage, bring on someone from the Nascent Soul Stage! Hearing this, Ma Tianyang immediately jumped onto the tform, then witnessed Evesting Fairys Word Bes Reality. That day, Evesting Fairy fought across levels, defeating cultivators from the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Spirit Transformation stages with his mid-stage Foundation Building cultivation, bing famous. That day, Lu Yang wished he could bury himself in the ground. (End of the chapter) Chapter 161: Visit from the Five Elements Sect Chapter 161: Visit from the Five Elements Sect Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The flying boat of the Land of Gold Commerce sailed through the clouds, passing through ayer of clouds. The guests were sunbathing on the deck, enjoying this moment of tranquility. Suddenly, a huge shadow enveloped the guests. They looked up in surprise to find an exceptionallyrge flying boat appearing overhead. The flying boat of the Land of Gold Commerce was already considered veryrge, but in front of this vessel, it seemed as tiny as an infant. The exterior of this flying boat was adorned with colorful gems that shone brightly, clearly not ordinary items. Whose flying boat is this? people whispered among themselves, having never seen such a gigantic flying boat before. Some observant individuals noted, Look at the insignia on the side of the flying boat. This is a flying boat of the Five Elements Sect! Five Elements Sect? People had only heard of the Five Elements Sect by name and rarely saw the Five Elements Sect traveling, especially in such a grand manner. Could it be that some unparalleled demon has appeared, requiring the elders of the Five Elements Sect to head out together to eliminate it? In the world of cultivation, the reputation of the Five Elements Sect was more than a notch above that of the Dao Seeking Sect. Looking at the direction, are they going to the Dao Seeking Sect? Are they going to eliminate a great demon, or are they visiting the Dao Seeking Sect? Our purpose for this journey is to eliminate those demons and ghosts of the Dao Seeking Sect, to show them the might of our Five Elements Sect! On the flying boat of the Five Elements Sect, the Sect Master Qiu Jinan inspired the crowd: Last time it was my mistake in decision-making. I forgot Yun Zhi was a disciple of Daoist Non-Speaker, eligible topete, so our Five Elements Sect lost a minor battle! But this time its different. Ive confirmed that the kid Daoist Non-Speaker has disappeared, and Yun Zhi has officially be the acting Sect Leader, making her my equal and no longer participating in activities meant for disciples! This is our chance! Without the threat of Yun Zhi, the Dao Seeking Sect is nothing! We have endured hardship for this days victory, for the honor of the Five Elements Sect! Qiu Jinan was determined to redeem themselves, to strut in front of the Dao Seeking Sect, he even specially brought the most luxurious flying boat of the sect, just to show off in front of the Dao Seeking Sect. On the flying boat, each talented disciple, handpicked by the Five Elements Sect, listened to Qiu Jinans speech, their eyes ignited with the fire ofbat. They were all talents selected by the Five Elements Sect, each with their strengths, and unique insights into the five elements spells, rarely meeting their match among peers. They had been taught by their elders from a young age that when going on missions, they should try to avoid dealing with people from the Dao Seeking Sect, as they were very difficult to handle and could not be understood withmon sense. Every youth has a rebellious heart, and finally having the chance to confront the Dao Seeking Sect, they were determined to make a splendid show to let the Dao Seeking Sect know what talent means. Among them were disciples who had participated in the previous exchange but only Yun Zhi had made a move then, not truly showcasing the overall strength of the Dao Seeking Sect. They knew very little about the Dao Seeking Sect and felt this was an opportunity to showcase themselves. A bright-eyed young girl, looking at Qiu Jinan with a burning gaze, clenched her fist and shouted, For the honor of the Five Elements Sect! Her words, like a stone dropped on a calmke, rippled through, eliciting a response from the disciples of the Five Elements Sect. For the honor of the Five Elements Sect! For the honor of the Five Elements Sect! Seeing the girl, Qiu Jinans expression changed dramatically: Why are you here? Youre not on the visitation list! The girl feigned anger: Why cant Ie? Its such a rare opportunity toe to the Dao Seeking Sect, and you didnt include me in such fun! Describing a visit to the Dao Seeking Sect as fun is inappropriate; it should be considered dangerous! Qiu Jinan corrected the girls logic. Some younger disciples, unfamiliar with the girl, sent a telepathic message to their Senior Brother: Senior Brother, who is she? All I know is that her name is Shangguan Yu. Her background is unclear. She has been by the Sect Masters side even before I joined the Five Elements Sect. There are rumors that she was favored by the previous Sect Master, supposedly the illegitimate daughter of the previous Sect Master and the Sect Masters half-sister from a different mother. The Sect Master indulges her actions quite a bit. Nearly arriving at the Dao Seeking Sect, Qiu Jinan couldnt possibly send Shangguan Yu back, and it was highly likely she wouldnt listen to him anyway. Rather than lose face in public, it was better for him to step back. While they were speaking, the flying boat arrived at the entrance of the Dao Seeking Sect and docked nearby. In front of the Dao Seeking Sects gate, the acting Sect Leader Evesting Fairy and the eight elders had already hung up a banner weing the Five Elements Sect. Qiu Jinan led his people off the boat, a faint, knowing smile on his lips as he observed the Dao Seeking Sects reactions. Certainly, the people of the Dao Seeking Sect had never seen such a luxurious flying boat. The Grand Elder stepped forward to greet Qiu Jinan, extending his hand, but just as Qiu Jinan was about to shake it, the Grand Elder said, Docking fee. The Grand Elder wasnt there for a handshake but to charge a fee. Typically, when leaders of the Five Great Immortal Sects visit each other, they would construct objects like mist and clouds with their own mana, which would dissipate upon reaching their destination, very convenient. Rarely do they arrive in flying boats like Qiu Jinan did. Such arge flying boat docked in front of the Dao Seeking Sects gate would undoubtedly incur a charge; this wasnt a free parking or docking area. I am here representing the Five Elements Sect, Qiu Jinan said with a heavy voice. The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, finding Qiu Jinans argument reasonable: Then well give you a 20% discount. Taking a deep breath, Qiu Jinan decided to be magnanimous, not wanting to squabble with the Dao Seeking Sects entrics. The docking fee for Qiu Jinans ostentatious flying boat was tens of times that of ordinary boats, making Qiu Jinans heart bleed. But the thought of soon unting his prowess at the Dao Seeking Sect made him overlook this minor detail. Then, Qiu Jinan saw the Dao Seeking Sect people and the banner hung overhead. The wee for the Five Elements Sect couldnt have been more grand; the banner was personally written by an immortal, a second of its kind couldnt be found in the world. Yellow Bean, although seeming unserious, had excellent calligraphy skills. The characters on the banner, flying and dancing, were very imposing. The banners message was simple, Wee Five Elements Sect, but it was not in contemporary script. Qiu Jinan squinted, recognizing it as ancient script. Was the Dao Seeking Sect unting their cultural heritage? Ridiculous, did they not know he had once been obsessed with the ancient era and studied its culture extensively? Qiu Jinan smiled and uttered a series of obscure and difficult words in thenguage of the ancient era, understood by only a few. While traces of ancient era script could still be followed, its pronunciation was much harder to grasp, or perhaps impossible to understand, since while scripts could be passed down, their pronunciations could not. This was a remnant sound he identally discovered at a relic site, which, judging by the arrangement of surrounding objects and surviving texts, seemed to be a worship site for ancient immortals who enjoyed the process of being worshiped. The sound, grand and ancient, likely praised the priests and others after enjoying their worship, which Qiu Jinan found very fitting for the current situation. This also exined why the sound could be passed down, because it was the voice of an immortal. Lu Yang quietly asked Evesting Fairy, What is Sect Master Qiu saying? Evesting Fairy looked puzzled, His ent is so thick, I cant understand clearly. It sounds like hes saying, Great immortals, please ept the most humble offerings from your servant. Does he recognize my identity? Evesting Fairy was somewhat pleased, finally, someone recognized his identity as an immortal, and the attitude was very humble, much better than Yun Zhi and Lu Yang. He decided to appoint him as the Vice Sect Leader of the Undying Sect. Qiu Jinan, noticing the confused expressions of everyone, nodded in satisfaction, thinking, You dont understand what Im saying, do you? (End of the chapter) Chapter 162: The Writings of Ying Tian Immortal Chapter 162: The Writings of Ying Tian Immortal Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Looking back, Evesting Fairy, as one of the ancient five immortals, had a name that echoed throughout the universe, known to all. Ancient ancestors and demon races would often build altars, offering treasures and valuable artifacts to worship Evesting Fairy, seeking her mercy. Some tribes regarded her as their totem and the deity protecting their tribe, holdingrge-scale worship activities annually. Evesting Fairy enjoyed a period of unparalleled glory. Unfortunately, since her revival, times have changed drastically. She has fallen into obscurity, with only a cult that had a few screws loose believing in her, and they dont even know her name, mistaking even her gender. Living in Lu Yangs body, asionally frightened by that girl Yun Zhi, and mocked by Lu Yang, life has been hard. Not to mention being an immortal, even a Tribtion Crossing Stage shouldnt be treated this way. Finally, someone has opened their eyes to recognize her identity, even offering such a massive flying boat as a tribute. Looking at the gems embedded in the ships hull and its colossal size, this is the respect a true immortal deserves! In the spiritual space, Lu Yang nced at Evesting Fairy, thinking that she seemed quite happy ying the role of sect master these past few days, defeating Spirit Transformation Stage as a Foundation Building cultivator, a feat unprecedented in history. Any talent would feel ashamed in front of such an achievement, iming it as a historical record wouldnt be an exaggeration. Bringing such a big gift too, Evesting Fairyughed, reaching out to Qiu Jinan for the treasure that controlled the flying boat, speaking in the ancientnguage. What are you doing? Qiu Jinan looked at Lu Yang, who was grinning foolishly, a bit confused, not understanding what Evesting Fairy was saying. He only knew that one sentence in ancientnguage. Qiu Jinan observed Lu Yang, who, despite not having high cultivation, seemed to be a central figure, standing in the sect masters position. Most importantly was somewhat feminine? Didnt you just say, Great immortal, please ept the most humble offering from your servant? Isnt the offering the flying boat? Evesting Fairy was also confused, You, as the vice sect leader, dont you want to keep your position? This time, Evesting Fairy spoke in Mandarin, which Qiu Jinan understood. His eyes twitched as he finally grasped the meaning of that ancient sentence. Encountering a cultivator proficient in ancient civilization surprised him. Do you really understand ancient civilization? Qiu Jinan looked at Evesting Fairy skeptically. After thinking, Evesting Fairy admitted a big truth: More than you do. Qiu Jinanughed in annoyance: Young man, dont think reading a few books makes you understand ancient civilization. Let me test you! Do you know about the Heavenly Court from ancient times, which ssified immortals into several levels? Do you know what those levels are? Recently, while exploring a relic, Qiu Jinan identally found an ancient manuscript written by an immortal, detailing the glory of ancient times, especially mentioning the Heavenly Court. Are you referring to Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, Golden Immortal, Great Luo Golden Immortal, and Primordial Immortal? Or Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, Immortal King, Immortal Sovereign, Immortal Emperor? The first set waspiled by Ying Tian Immortal, and the second set by the Qilin Immortal. Ipiled it as first-level immortal, second-level immortal, third-level immortal, fourth-level immortal, fifth-level immortal. Evesting Fairy scratched her head; back then, theypiled several cultivation level systems, not sure which one Qiu Jinan found. Qiu Jinan angrily retorted, Dont spout nonsense, this is the work of an immortal, how could it be made up?! Evesting Fairy, puzzled, then had a realization: Who said immortals must tell the truth? Oh, I see, you must have found Ying Tian Immortalsption, his is the mostprehensive and very impressive. Let me tell you, Ying Tian Immortals words cannot be trusted, all lies. Before he became an immortal, he often lied to me, I beat him up just like beating a grandchild. Qiu Jinan was startled, feeling that the Evesting Fairy was talking nonsense, but the ancient book indeed mentioned Ying Tian Immortal: Have you seen that book? Evesting Fairy nodded: Of course. Besides Ying Tian Immortal, is there also a mention of a certain Hawking Immortal? Lu Yang thought to himself, why does that sound like someone with a physical disability? Was it an illusion? (TL Note: Reference to Stephen Hawking) If you dont believe me, bring out the book, and Ill show you how to distinguish the real from the fake. Doubtfully, Qiu Jinan took out the ancient manuscript, which had a grandiose title, called Prisoning Heaven. Pointing at the cover, he said, Look, its clearly written here, Ying Tian Immortal Authored, it was clearly written by Ying Tian Immortal. Evesting Fairy shook her head: Did you not notice the small nk space between Tian and Immortal? What does that mean? You read it wrong. You read it as Ying Tian Immortal, Authored, but the actual reading is Ying Tian, Immortal Authored. So, it was written by someone named Ying Tian, not Ying Tian Immortal. The Grand Elder and others chuckled secretly upon seeing Qiu Jinan taken aback. Hahaha, Jinan, Ive told you before, dont always show off your limited knowledge, the Grand Elder and othersughed discreetly, while Shangguan Yu, standing behind Qiu Jinan,ughed out loud,pletely disregarding his feelings. With an apologetic tone, Shangguan Yu said to the people of the Dao Seeking Sect: Sorry, as you all know, Jinan is just thick-skinned and never admits his mistakes. He doesnt understand the original meaning of ancientnguage, causing this misunderstanding. My apologies. Please ept these gifts. The disciples of the Five Elements Sect started unloading various treasures, ores, elixirs, and techniques from the boat, each of which could be the highlight or even the finale at an auction, immensely valuable. The most precious were the Five Elements ores, a specialty of the Five Elements Sect, divided into five types based on the attributes of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, distinguishable by color, each representing the ultimate form of its attribute, sought after by master smiths. The Fifth Elder, Zhou Xin, looked at the Five Elements ores like a wolf spotting its prey at night, his eyes glowing green. Visits between the Five Great Immortal Sects always involve bringing some gifts. For instance, the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce often brings branches of the moonurel tree and essence of the moon as gifts. The Hanging Temple offers Buddhist scriptures and consecrated Buddhist treasures as gifts. The Prison-Suppressing Sect brings tamed ghosts and goblins as gifts. The Dao Seeking Sect, on the other hand, is rather unique, or rather casual, especially when Daoist Non-Speaker was still around. For example, they sent top-grade body refining techniques to the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce, which, once mastered, resulted in a body as strong as reinforced steel, skin hard as iron, infuriating the people of the Moon Laurel Immortal Pce who wanted to fight someone right then and there. What sort of image does it create for female cultivators to practice such techniques? Or when they sent the long-lost silent meditation technique to the Hanging Temple, Daoist Non-Speaker even imed to have practiced it himself with great results. The abbotughed twice, thinking if this miscreant could seed in practice, why would he be called Non-Speaker? Daoist Non-Speaker insisted it was genuine, so the abbot practiced it skeptically. Then, he found that whenever he spoke, there was a garlic taste, causing those around him to beg him to shut up. Daoist Non-Speaker exined, Isnt silent meditation about making others want you to shut up? This infuriated the abbot so much that he transformed into an immovable king, suppressing Daoist Non-Speaker, this troublemaker. (End of the chapter) Chapter 163: Dao Seeking Sect, Youve Gone Too Far! Chapter 163: Dao Seeking Sect, Youve Gone Too Far! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii After Yun Zhi became the acting sect master, following tradition, she visited the other four major immortal sects, bringing a special giftshe informed everyone that Daoist Non-Speaker had entered seclusion, and now she was in charge of the Dao Seeking Sect. The other four major sects couldnt have been happier upon hearing this news, finally no longer needing to deal with a madman. Moreover, with Yun Zhi as the acting sect master, it meant she would not participate in disciple activities. The Five Great Immortal Sects asionally organize events for disciples to explore ancient ruins and realms. Since Yun Zhis emergence, there seemed to be no need for such events anymore, making the other four sects feel quite awkwardrather than organizing events, it would be better to just hand over the rewards to Yun Zhi and save time. Seeing the enchanting Shangguan Yu, the Second Elders eyes lit up. Although Shangguan Yu had rejected the Second Elder, he still couldnt forget the pure and beautiful Shangguan Yu. Noticing the Second Elder staring at Shangguan Yu, Qiu Jinan stepped forward, blocking his view with a dark expression: When does thepetition start? The Grand Elder said, ording to the n, well have the opening ceremony and a meal first, then thepetition. Quite standard, thought Qiu Jinan, worthy of Yun Zhis arrangement, much better than that bastard Daoist Non-Speaker. During thest visit to the Dao Seeking Sect, Daoist Non-Speaker had immediately put his arm around him, saying, Brother, lets go. Ill take you to the brothel for some fun, my treat. Qiu Jinan had pushed Daoist Non-Speaker aside right there. Was that something to say in front of everyone? Shangguan Yu was watching! Huh? Wheres that kid who understands ancient civilization? Qiu Jinan wanted to discuss some ancient secrets with Lu Yang, such as how thest person who mastered the art of word bes reality died, or whether Ying Tian Immortal was born on a day where the weather was especially nice, hence his name (TL Note: Ying Tian means ording to heavens will) The Grand Elder exined, Hes gone to cook. Oh. Qiu Jinan didnt think much of it. On the stage, disciples from the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect stood together, listening to the leaders speak. Soon, they began to nod off. The Grand Elder read from the script written by Lu Yang, To implement the policy of the Five Great Immortal Sects moving forward together, to promote friendly exchanges between the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect, to deepen the understanding of the friendship among the Five Great Immortal Sects, toy a solid foundation, and to achieve mutual benefit, here, I have five points to discuss. First, implementing the policy of the Five Great Immortal Sects moving forward together is a need of history and reality. With the arrival of the ancient era and the revival of ancient cultivators, facing the severe situation of the Central Continent and various unpredictable risks and challenges, the Five Great Immortal Sects should and must stand united Qiu Jinan was shocked. Although he expected the speech to be different fromst time, he didnt anticipate such a vast difference. Last time, Daoist Non-Speaker only said two sentences: wee the Five Elements Sect, and everyone is free to do as they please. When it was Qiu Jinans turn to speak, he cleared his throat and spoke loudly, In this bright and revitalizing season, the Five Elements Sect is honored to visit the Dao Seeking Sect, to witness the most advanced thoughts and theories in the cultivation world, which is quite enlightening After two rounds of leaders speeches, scattered apuse came from below. To use the words of the Eighth Elder, it was like not being able to fully empty ones dder. On stage, the leaders from both sides shook hands. Master Qiu, we look forward to learning from you during this exchange. The Grand Elder is joking. Please go easy on us, Dao Seeking Sect. The Grand Elder and Qiu Jinan smiled amicably, their real thoughts hidden from observers as theymunicated telepathically. Qiu Jinan, get back to your Five Elements Sect. Dao Seeking Sect doesnt wee you. Look at your hypocritical face; have you forgotten how our Dao Seeking Sects Nine beat you up? Nine against one, you Dao Seeking Sect have no shame at all. Do you think Im keen on visiting your Dao Seeking Sect, a gathering ce for demons and ghosts? Just wait for me to exorcize and spread the news of victory throughout the cultivation world! In reality, both were smiling sincerely. Master Qiu, shall we go have a meal? Ha-ha, Ive heard that the food of Dao Seeking Sect is unparalleled. Today I must indeed broaden my horizons. As the group made their way to the dining hall, along the way, Qiu Jinan saw a disciple using a dough stick to hammer nails, striking sparks everywhere. He saw a disciple toss a pancake into the air, which instantly expanded, covering the sky. He saw a disciple making egg soup, where the silver pot instantly turned ck and gradually melted away, with the egg soup during this process condensing into a drop of green liquid. In a certain sense, it indeed was an eye-opening experience. Dao Seeking Sect isnt going to make me eat this, right? Qiu Jinan felt uneasy, thinking he didnt deserve such a fate. Finally, the group arrived at an extremely luxurious restaurant, where a delightful aroma wafted from afar. What appeared before Qiu Jinan were dishes full of color, aroma, and taste. It seems Ive misjudged Dao Seeking Sect, Qiu Jinan sighed in relief. Evesting Fairy, wearing a white apron and a tall hat, looked the part. She introduced the dishes one by one: Stuffed tofu, made with prime ice field elephant spine meat and morning dew collected from medicinal herbs in the garden. Ibined them using ancient secret techniques, producing astonishing effects. Evesting Fairy looked forward to the guests reactions: Would you like to try? Qiu Jinan lifted the lid on the dish, and a beam of golden light shot up, blinding him while celestial music yed in his ears. Turning his head, he saw a group of people performing. What is this? Music, for the atmosphere, exined Evesting Fairy. Without overthinking, Qiu Jinan picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of tofu, only to see the part where the chopsticks touched the tofu start to smoke and rapidly melt. With a tter, the tofu fell back down. Qiu Jinan blinked, almost believing he was hallucinating. Evesting Fairy reminded, You better eat quickly, or soon the te and table will be burnt through by the stuffed tofu. Qiu Jinan, resisting the urge to flip the table, decided to try another dish. He lifted the lid off a small tea bowl, revealing a creamy fish soup with two green leaves floating on top, making the soup even more delicious. Evesting Fairy exined: Our Tai Lake has a fish called the Azure Water Fish, an ancient species. This fish must be cooked immediately after leaving the water, or it will spoil within three hours. I caught it from Tai Lake at dawn and carefully cooked it to preserve the freshness of the fish meat to the greatest extent. Please try it. Then Qiu Jinan saw a green little fish swimming around in the soup, even leaping out and back in, creating ripples, with a drop of fish soup sshing onto Qiu Jinans face. Is this fish a bit too lively? Qiu Jinan once again resisted the urge to flip the table. Evesting Fairy said, The fish you see is not alive but a fish spirit I crafted based on the Azure Water Fishs skeleton using ancient techniques. Just poke it with a spoon, and it will dissolve automatically. Qiu Jinan cautiously poked with a spoon, and the green fish indeed dissolved, blending into the soup and enhancing its deliciousness. Perhaps I was wrong about him, Qiu Jinan thought. He gently took a sip, then spat it out: So salty, how much salt did you add?! Evesting Fairy thought carefully: Twenty seconds. Qiu Jinan mmed the table and stood up furiously, roaring: Dao Seeking Sect, youve gone too far! (End of the chapter) Chapter 164: Let Your Best Disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect Come Out! Chapter 164: Let Your Best Disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect Come Out! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Your Dao Seeking Sect have gone too far! Qiu Jinan roared furiously, overturning the table. The foodnded on the floor, sizzling as it corroded the floorboards, causing onlookers to twitch at the corners of their eyes. In the outside world, his image had always been that of a graceful gentleman who could engage in lively conversations with ordinary people and cultivators alike, without any barriers. In fact, that was indeed the kind of person he was. Qiu Jinan felt that the Dao Seeking Sect was his natural enemy, capable of easily stirring his emotions. In a sense, the Dao Seeking Sect treated Qiu Jinan with great respect,parable to the ancient Four Immortals. After all, only the ancient Four Immortals were worthy of experiencing Yellow Beans culinary skills. In the spiritual space, Lu Yang felt a chill down his spine at this scene, realizing there was a reason the ancient Four Immortals did not eat your cooking. Evesting Fairy, while cooking, blocked Lu Yangs view with the excuse, This is an ancient secret, you cannot learn it. At that moment, Lu Yang had a bad premonition, which now seemed to havee true. And this was just two dishes; Evesting Fairy had prepared a total of eight dishes, and Lu Yang dared not imagine what kind of monsters and demons would appear next. But that wasnt the main point. The main point was that everything Evesting Fairy did was using his own face. To outsiders, it appeared as if these actions were his own doing! The day before yesterday and yesterday, using the rights of a proxy sect master, she arbitrarily challenged others beyond her level, already drawing a wave of hatred. Now, another wave of hatred wasing. What sin have Imitted, to recite Evesting Fairys true name and resurrect her. Lu Yang now felt that the karma of resurrecting an immortal was as heavy as a mountain; he was almost unable to bear it. There was a reason why the person behind the scenes was unwilling to personally resurrect Evesting Fairy! Seeing Qiu Jinans fury, the Great Elders and others secretly breathed a sigh of relief,municating with each other through voice transmission. Fortunately, our Dao Seeking Sect observed etiquette and let the Five Elements Sect eat first; otherwise, we would have been the unlucky ones. Little Lu is thoughtful. He has no hostility towards the Five Elements Sect, but upon hearing that the Five Elements Sect had conflicts with us, he immediately took action, giving Qiu Jinan a lesson. What a good kid! The Five Elements Sect disciples was also reflecting: I used to disdain the adherence to etiquette, thinking it was old-fashioned. But now, it seems that the ancients were not without reason. Elders should eat first. Elders eating first to test for poison before letting us eat, thats the wisdom of the ancients! The Sect Master risking himself to test for poison is a spirit worth learning from. I had heard before that the Dao Seeking Sects pills and poisons were unparalleled. Today, Ive truly seen it. Others poison their food, but this is cooking with poison. While Qiu Jinan was eating, the Second Elder showed concern for Shangguan Yu: Fairy Yu, its been a long time. You are still so beautiful. Shangguan Yu looked calmly at the Second Elder: Little Ba, its impossible between us, and its not suitable. You should give up. The Second Elder became anxious: Is there any w in me? I can change! Shangguan Yu shook her head and said nothing more, simply moving a bit farther away from the Second Elder. We are all beyond the need for food; this meal is unnecessary. Its all just formalities. Its better to let the disciplespete directly! Qiu Jinan, no longer beating around the bush, revealed the purpose of his visit. The Great Elder said, It should be so. We n to divide thepetition into four stages: Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul Stage, and Spirit Transformation Stage, topete ordingly. Qiu Jinan sneered, thinking that the Dao Seeking Sect indeed nned to divide thepetition by cultivation level, avoiding Yun Zhis participation. With a grand gesture, he said, I have only one requirement: let your best disciple from the Dao Seeking Sectpete against our best disciple. One battle to determine the winner, how about it! The Great Elder hesitated, fearing a repeat of the ssic scene where Yun Zhi brutally defeated the Five Elements Sect: That might not be a good idea. Weve already nned it all out. If you lose badly, it wont look good for you. Dont really anger Qiu Jinan to a bad end, at least not in the Dao Seeking Sect. Seeing the Great Elder like this, Qiu Jinan was even more certain of his thoughts: Face? Strength speaks among cultivators. Losing is losing, winning is winning. What need is there for face! Qiu Jinan beckoned, letting his top disciple step forward. This is my top disciple, Lin Shaoyou, also the most outstanding disciple of the Five Elements Sect, with a single wood spiritual root, early Unity stage cultivation. Generally, cultivators with a single wood spiritual root are suitable for healing and treatment, not skilled inbat, but he is different! Shaoyou has also carried the Five Elements Sects philosophy of the mutual generation and oveing of the five elements to the extreme, capable of wood generating fire, fire generating earth, earth generating metal, and has mastered fire and metal spells Six Ding Divine Fire and Berserker Golden Body. He has even turned these two types of spells into taboo spells with great lethal power! (TL Note: The Six Ding Divine Fire is the fire in the Eight Trigrams Furnace which was owned by Laozi in Journey to the West.) Shaoyou has maintained the enduring aura of a wood spiritual root while mastering the ultimate attack spells. Hisbat power is far beyond the early Unity stage. Just a few days ago, he defeated a Grand Elder from a first-grade sect, who hadte Unity stage cultivation! Lin Shaoyou, dressed like a well-fed schr, wore a pleasant smile, exuding an elegant temperament that gave off an effortless vibe. Indeed, he had the qualifications to be so effortless. Among his peers, he hardly found any match. His sights were set on the previous generation, or even the one before that. Is my opponent Dai Bufan or Ji Hongwen? In his view, among the Dao Seeking Sects peers, only these two were qualified to be his opponents. He had encountered Yun Zhi before, many techniques not yet deployed. This time, he was determined to fully demonstrate them, to win honor for his master! Its me. A voice, calm with a hint of indifference, came through, sending shivers down the spine. Yun Zhi, who had been silent from the start, stepped forward, causing the hearts of Sect Master Qiu and his top disciple to skip a beat. Qiu Jinan managed a forced sneer: Dont try to scare me. Ive already inquired thoroughly. Yun Zhi is acting as the sect master and cannot participate in the fight. The best disciple should either be Dai Bufan or Ji Hongwen! Yun Zhi took out a document stating in ck and white that Lu Yang was acting as the sect master for three days. Pointing at Lu Yang, she said, This person is the current acting sect master. I am now just an ordinary disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect. Evesting Fairy chimed in: Exactly, I am now the acting sect master! What kind of joke is this, how can a Foundation Building stage possibly act as the sect master! Qiu Jinan eximed in anger. The Great Elder shook his head: You are mistaken. This Sect Master Lu is a genius among geniuses. Though only at the Foundation Building stage, he can challenge those beyond his level and has defeated cultivators at the Golden Core, Nascent Soul Stage, and Spirit Transformation Stage! At these words, all eyes from the Five Elements Sect instantly focused on Evesting Fairy. A Foundation Building stage defeating a Spirit Transformation Stage, even with external aid, was akin to a fairy tale, an impossible feat not even conceived in myths! Though the Dao Seeking Sects reputation wasnt great, they never lied, especially about such matters. Qiu Jinans expression turned solemn, realizing the Dao Seeking Sect had produced such a shocking genius. Compared to Lu Yang, any genius from history seemed dimmed! The Dao Seeking Sect was indeed formidable, having anticipated his move and prepared in advance by having Yun Zhi participate. Qiu Jinan found himself in a difficult position. Having spoken boldly, if he didnt fight, wouldnt it be a great loss of face? Just as Qiu Jinan was troubled, Lin Shaoyou took a step forward, moving Qiu Jinan deeply. Worthy of being the top disciple, daring to step forward at this moment, facing the pressure from Yun Zhi. Lin Shaoyou took a deep breath, adjusting his breathing and mindset. He looked straight at Yun Zhi and dered loudly: In that case, then I shall no longer be a disciple of the Five Elements Sect! (End of the chapter) Chapter 165: Everlasting Fairys Trial Chapter 165: Evesting Fairys Trial Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lin Shaoyou spoke earnestly: I think the Dao Seeking Sect is a good ce. The brothers and sisters of the Dao Seeking Sect get along harmoniously, without barriers, which I greatly admire. I am willing to join the Dao Seeking Sect! Qiu Jinan was nearly infuriated to death by Lin Shaoyou. He trembled as he pointed at Lin Shaoyou, and it took him a while to utter a word. You traitor! Lin Shaoyou turned to Qiu Jinan and said, Master, didnt you just say it yourself? What need is there for face among cultivators. Get back here to me! Qiu Jinan raged. Oh. (TL Note: This is hard to trante. Its sort of like acknowledging the sentence another party says. I dont like tranting it as Ok because the Oh has a nuance that I cant really exin well. Its kind of like nodding your head) Lin Shaoyou obediently stood back behind Qiu Jinan, and as they passed by each other, theymunicated with their eyes. Master, did I act well? You overdid it a bit. You need more practice. Qiu Jinan coughed, gradually calming down: Since Shaoyou is unwilling to participate in the match, as elders, we cant force him, right? By proposing not topete against Yun Zhi, Qiu Jinan found a legitimate reason to continue as per the Dao Seeking Sects n without losing face. As the top disciple, Lin Shaoyou often had the experience of taking bullets for his master. This time, Qiu Jinan nned to challenge the Dao Seeking Sect from the bottom up, bringing along direct disciples from the Foundation Building stage to the Spirit Transformation Stage, all of whom were confident in their invincibility within their respective realms. Old Ba, keep away from her! Qiu Jinan noticed the Second Elder, who was still persistently harassing, grabbed Shangguan Yus hand, pulling her over and protecting her. Jinan, Little Ba means no harm to me. Qiu Jinan red: Thats even more problematic! Without further ado, Qiu Jinan, along with the people from the Five Elements Sect, arrived at the martial arts field, briefly arranged the order of appearance, and then returned to the stands. At this time, the disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect were gathered around the martial arts field, each with a smile on their face, all there to watch the excitement. Lu Yang had not expected the Dao Seeking Sect to have so many disciples. The inns and other businesses within the Dao Seeking Sect spotted a business opportunity, selling viewing spots or carryingrge boxes to sell fruits, iming to make a fortune every day. On the stands, Evesting Fairy and Qiu Jinan sat side by side, with Yun Zhi, the Great Elder, Shangguan Yu, Lin Shaoyou, and others sitting on either side. Inside the spiritual space, Lu Yang and Evesting Fairy were discussing a matter of life and death. Fairy, have you ever thought about being killed by the Eldest Senior Sister and then resurrected tens of thousands of yearster? Eh? Why are you so cruel to me?! Evesting Fairy was very surprised, not feeling she had done anything wrong. Wait, are you upset because I didnt teach you ancient culinary skills? Im telling you, this kind of method cannot be casually passed on. Our rtionship is not that of teacher and disciple. Teaching and enlightening is a very serious matter, not to be taken lightly! Lu Yang thought to himself, where did the fairy get the confidence in her cooking skills? Was it because the ancient Four Immortals were not poisoned to death by you? He wore a look of deep distress: Fairy, think about it. Since you became the acting sect master, how much hatred have you drawn for me? Even if I were made of iron, I couldnt bear it! Lu Yang was sure that those Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Spirit Transformation Stage brothers and sisters who were challenged by Evesting Fairy woulde after him with weapons to teach him a lesson after today. Only then did Evesting Fairy realize the trouble her yfulness had caused Lu Yang, but she was unwilling to admit her mistake: How can it be called drawing hatred? This is a test from an immortal for you. Once you pass my test, you can inherit my legacy. If it were the legacy of Ying Tian Immortal, Lu Yang might be tempted, but he wondered if inheriting from Evesting Fairy might actually lower his intelligence. This is the legacy of an immortal. You dont know how many people wish to obtain it. What does your inheritance include? Lu Yang looked at Evesting Fairy skeptically. Thats a lot. I dont need to mention spatial spells like Shrinking Earth into Inches and Miles in a Step, since youve already learned them. Besides, I can teach you spells rted to time! Lu Yangs interest was piqued. Time-rted spells were among the most treasured, and there were very few of them in the Dao Seeking Sects scripture library. Evesting Fairy really did have something special. This spell is called ying Dead. When you cast it, you can make yourself appear dead inside and out. You can even adjust the time freely, controlling the degree of the corpses decay to ensure no one can tell! When you cant beat an enemy, just y dead! Evesting Fairy seemed very experienced, leaving Lu Yang wondering how many times she had yed dead. Lu Yang suspected he was being assimted by Evesting Fairy, as he actually found her quite reliable. Theres also the Water Avoidance Charm, allowing you to freely enterkes and oceans! Lu Yangs interest was rekindled. Many powerful beings had fallen in battles, and their bodies and relics had ended up inkes and oceans. Lakes and oceans were natural treasures. If one could go down, perhaps a great harvest awaited. However, remember to use the Water Avoidance Charm quickly, as it has a time limit. What time limit? My Water Avoidance Charm is veryprehensive. It not only repels the water around you but also the water in your body. If you use the Water Avoidance Charm for too long, you might die of dehydration. Lu Yang: You can keep your inheritance to gather dust. Eh, why are you like this?! Evesting Fairy stomped her foot in frustration. Outside, Qiu Jinan turned his head, interrupting their conversation, and asked Evesting Fairy: Sect Master Lu seems to know a lot about ancient matters. I have some questions. May I seek guidance from Sect Master Lu? Qiu Jinan did not look down on Lu Yang because of his age. Since the other was acting as the sect master, he treated Lu Yang with the respect due to someone of the same status. Evesting Fairy found Qiu Jinans attitude agreeable: Sure, but after I answer your question, you have to tell me where you got the book of Ying Tian Immortal. Lu Yang understood Evesting Fairys intention. Having the book of Ying Tian Immortal meant that there was an ancient relic site. She wanted to search there for clues about herself and the ancient times. Agreed. Qiu Jinan consented. I heard that in ancient times, there was a divine being who could be beheaded without dying, using his own breasts as eyes and his navel as a mouth. There was such a person. I want to know, did he wear clothes? Qiu Jinan was very interested in such ancient legends. Evesting Fairy thought for a moment and said, Usually, he didnt wear any, bare-chested. But this also brought him some troubles. For example, some big tribes are particr about attire, and those not properly dressed cannot enter. He, being bare-chested like a savage, couldnt enter. But if he wore clothes, he would look like a masked robber, also not allowed in, facing a dilemma. Later, he became smarter, fitted himself with a fake head, and wore clothes. Then, people couldnt recognize him. However, one day he put his head on backwards, frightening the people around who thought his neck had been twisted and turned into a zombie, wandering in the streets. (End of the chapter) Chapter 166: The Commentary of the Match Chapter 166: The Commentary of the Match Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii I heard that Ying Tian Immortal was born in response to heaven, hence the name Ying Tian. Is there any truth to this? Evesting Fairy waved her hand dismissively: Ah, thats just boasting. Ying Tian Immortal came from a lowly tribe. The ancient era ced great importance on ones background. Even though Ying Tian Immortal showed talent at a young age, there were whispers behind his back saying his origin and fate were insufficient, that his glory was only temporary, and he was destined to fall. Ying Tian Immortal then made up a story about being born in response to heaven, which sounded quite usible. When Qilin Immortal heard about him iming to be born in response to heaven, he couldnt stand it. The qilin is a cherished creature of heaven and earth, also considered a child of heaven, which conflicted with Ying Tian Immortal. The two even fought over this, with Qilin Immortal using Ying Tian Immortal of being born via cesarean section, iming his birth was anything but smooth, and that heaven didnt even want him to be born. Ying Tian Immortal retorted that Qilin Immortal was raised without manners by his mother. Of course, in a sense, Ying Tian Immortal was telling the truth. Lu Yang looked perplexed. Immortals are supposed to be noble figures, so howe they sound like hooligans when you talk about them? The two fought to a stalemate, and it was I who stepped in to mediate, saying why fight during the festivities? Come over for a meal at my ce. I have some clout, and upon hearing this, they immediately stopped fighting. The two became friends through fighting. After the fight, they figured, since theyre born from the same mother, why not be sworn brothers. Qiu Jinan automatically ignored the part where Evesting Fairy boasted about herself, thinking it was nonsense, and pressed on: And then they became sworn brothers? No, then they started fighting again over who would be the elder brother. Qiu Jinan: He had heard long ago that Ying Tian Immortal and Qilin Immortal did not get along in the ancient times, often fighting fiercely. The reasons given varied widely, but the prevailing view was that there was a fundamental conflict over the Dao and the way of immortality, rooted in elusive yet profound theories that irreconcbly opposed each other. The ancient texts also recorded that the two fought in the cosmos without restraint, erasing an entire area, where stars and spiritual energy disappeared. And they fought over something like this? This isnt quite the ancient glory I had imagined. On the stands, while the two sect masters were discussing ancient knowledge, the disciples from both sides began theirpetition on the martial arts field. First to take the stage was the Dao Seeking Sects contestantMeng Jingzhou, against the Five Elements Sects contestantDu Xueyi. This Du Xueyi contestant is no simple character. ording to insiders from the Five Elements Sect, Du Xueyi possesses a golden spiritual root. His body has been tempered a thousand times and polished in every way, as hard as steel, and he has also mastered the Thunderous Fist technique. His iron fists are indestructible, swinging like the wind and pouring like rain. Meng Jingzhou is even more remarkable. ording to Sect Master Lu Yang, who wished to remain anonymous, Meng Jingzhou possesses a once-in-a-century single spiritual root, remains untainted despite frequenting brothels, and is admired for his indomitable spirit. Interestingly, Meng Jingzhou is also a physical cultivator, and furthermore, he is a disciple of a well-known physical cultivator in the cultivation world, the Third Elder. It remains to be seen what kind of spectacr performance these two athletes will bring us today. Lets wait and see. The two contestants are now standing on thepetition tform, facing each otherone with a haughty gaze, the other with a sleazy look. Du Xueyi seems a bit ufortable with his opponents sleazy gaze, losing the first round. In their first encounter, Meng Jingzhou gained the upper hand with his shameless momentum! The match is about to begin, and Meng Jingzhou approaches the referee. What is he doing? He pulls out a top-grade spiritual stone. Hes actually trying to bribe the referee in broad daylight! The referee refuses Meng Jingzhous bribe and gives him a yellow card warning! Meng Jingzhou seems to misunderstand the referees action, thinking the referee wants to exchange the yellow card for Meng Jingzhous spiritual stone. The referee took action! The referee made a move against Meng Jingzhou! It seems the referee knew that he shouldnt attack a contestant. He gave himself a red card and disqualified himself. This match truly is full of twists and turns. Before it even started, we had to rece the referee! Meng Jingzhou, not disheartened by his failure, persevered and even attempted to bribe Du Xueyi. Du Xueyi, clearly unustomed to such a spectacle, appeared at a loss. Fortunately, Sect Master Qiu Jinans gaze brought him back to his senses, and he firmly rejected Meng Jingzhous unreasonable request. The new referee, seemingly more experienced, issued another yellow card warning to Meng Jingzhou. Finally, Meng Jingzhou started the match in earnest. As soon as the match began, Du Xueyiunched a series of attacks, his fists raining down like thunder, forcing Meng Jingzhou to retreat and scurry for cover. Meng Jingzhou, you had iting Sorry, thementator got a bit personal there. Please forgive me. Meng Jingzhou seemed at a disadvantage, but he appeared to have sustained little damage. Instead, it was Du Xueyi who, after a series of Thunderous Fist techniques, was left gasping for air. Seizing the opportunity while Du Xueyi caught his breath, Meng Jingzhouunched a fierce counterattack with the Third Elders signature moveShake the Heavens Six Forms, taking the initiative! Du Xueyi was caught off guard by Meng Jingzhous vigorous resistance, losing the initiative and being forced into a defensive position! Meng Jingzhou, like a tiger descending the mountain, roared through the forests, his punches and palms fierce and powerful, sttering Du Xueyi with blood! Despite being injured, Du Xueyi took a heavy punch from Meng Jingzhou, took the opportunity to retreat, and recover. Meng Jingzhou pursued relentlessly, closing in for a powerful strike. Du Xueyi seemed to gradually adapt to Meng Jingzhous fighting style, their fists and feet colliding with a piercing sound! Both fighters were fierce, at a standstill, neither able to ovee the other. Meng Jingzhou was the first to break the deadlock. He stepped forward and collided his head with Du Xueyis! An unexpected choice, could it be Meng Jingzhou practiced Iron Head Technique wait, thats not quite right! The object that collided with Du Xueyis head was not Meng Jingzhous head but his hair curtain! As a body cultivator, Meng Jingzhou had trained his hair to be as hard as his body! And hair doesnt feel pain! Brilliant strategy! Truly astonishing! Du Xueyi was dazed by the headbutt, stumbling backward, exactly what Meng Jingzhou wanted! Seizing the opportunity, Meng Jingzhou grabbed Du Xueyis clothes and threw him out! Meng Jingzhou won the match! Evesting Fairy announced through the sound amplification array: I dere, in the first round of the Foundation Building group, Meng Jingzhou wins. Then, in the spiritual space, Evesting Fairy asked Lu Yang: What were you rambling about just now? What did you say? (End of the chapter) Chapter 167: Confucian Cultivator vs. Confucian Cultivator Chapter 167: Confucian Cultivator vs. Confucian Cultivator Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Du Xueyi stillcksbat experience, losing is a lesson for him. Qiu Jinan shook his head, seemingly not too concerned about the unfavorable start. Lu Yang thought to himself, Sect Master Qiu, you dont have to put on a brave front; youve already crushed a teacup and still say its just a loss. Having Meng Jingzhou in the first round was Lu Yangs idea; he wanted Meng Jingzhou to serve a blow to the morale of the Five Elements Sect. Evesting Fairy hesitated before saying, Sect Master Qiu, I think Meng Jingzhou refining his body to the point of using his hair curtain to ram the opponents head cant simply be described as ckingbat experience. At least in the ancient times, Evesting Fairy had never seen such an outrageous method of body refinement. Could this be the new era of body cultivators? Qiu Jinan was momentarily speechless at Evesting Fairys blunt remark, unable to respond. Could we possibly get someone else to sit next to me? Qiu Jinan put on an indifferent expression: I had Du Xueyi go first merely as a warm-up. The next one to take the stage wont be as easy to deal with as him. On the martial arts field, a refined Confucian cultivator took the stage, wearing a schrly hat, holding a paper fan, and dressed in a light blue Confucian robe, appearing rxed andposed. This is the most outstanding Confucian cultivator in our sects Foundation Building stage, Fang Hao. Qiu Jinan made a polite remark, but everyone in the Five Elements Sect knew that Fang Haos level was actually simr to Du Xueyis. Coincidentally, we also have a Confucian cultivator. On the other side of the martial arts field, Barbarian Bone, carrying a huge hammer, arrivedte. Originally, Barbarian Bone wanted to bring Meng Jingzhou over, but the referee said Meng Jingzhou wasnt a weapon. Reluctantly, Barbarian Bone opted for the newly exchanged ck iron hammer instead. The hammers handle was affixed with talismans capable of reciting the entire text of The Sages Words. The Sage says: To learn and at times to apply what one has learned, isnt it a joy Barbarian Bone stepped toward Fang Hao, his face fierce. The sound of The Sages Words spread throughout the martial arts field, resembling a viin who had just massacred a family of twenty-eight, sparing not even the mice, reciting prayers for the dead afterward. It simply didnt match up. As soon as the match began, Barbarian Bone swung the ck iron hammer towards Fang Hao, who sidestepped gracefully, avoiding the attack. Barbarian Bone exerted force on his wrist, abruptly changing the hammers trajectory to sweep at Fang Hao. Fang Hao didnt expect Barbarian Bone to be so brute. Unable to dodge the hammers attack, he blocked it with his paper fan, which shattered. He was swept away. The paper fan was a magical treasure capable of blocking a fatal attack once, so Fang Hao was not injured. He put away his smile, realizing he was facing a tough opponent. A micro tornado formed around Fang Hao, and when it dissipated, an invisible yet palpable force surrounded him. Expansive Righteous Qi? Evesting Fairy eximed, seeing Expansive Righteous Qi for the first time since her resurrection. Fang Hao was a genuine Confucian cultivator, and the invisible force was indeed Expansive Righteous Qi. Were there Confucian cultivators and Expansive Righteous Qi in the ancient times? Lu Yang asked. Of course. The author of The Sages Words appeared much earlier than you think. Did Confucius be an immortal? I dont know. You dont know? The state of being a Sage isnt about a cultivation level, but about a benevolent mindset, living a life in pursuit of benevolence, which is the realm of a Sage. The meaning of benevolence is vast, and I couldnt possibly exin it all in three days and three nights. Of course, with my level, I couldnt talk for that long anyway. Clearly, Evesting Fairy had a realistic assessment of her own knowledge. With Expansive Righteous Qi as ink, Fang Hao used a wolf-hair brush to write in the airGentleman, go no farther, you are forbidden from moving ahead. Barbarian Bone, charging forward, saw these words and involuntarily stopped in his tracks, his bodypletely out of control. This is the rare Unity of Knowledge and Action technique among Confucian cultivators, a spell that forces the opponent to act ording to the written words, achieving unity of knowledge and action. Of course, this spell isnt without its limits. With talents like Fang Hao, it can only be used on people of the same realm. Those of a higher realm are directly immune. Using it against Barbarian Bone was just right. Fang Hao then wroteDo not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. Using this phrase means if Barbarian Bone wants to attack Fang Hao, he must first hit himself. Unexpectedly, when themand to stop disappeared, Barbarian Bone swung his hammer, startling Fang Hao. How did you break free from my control! Control? Barbarian Bone didnt quite understand Fang Haos meaning, Doesnt this sentence mean I wont give you what I dont want for myself? It doesnt restrict my freedom, right? Fang Hao was so frustrated he almost spit blood. The prerequisite for Unity of Knowledge and Action is understanding the meaning of the sentence, but the opponent is purely a barbarian! Fang Hao was identally grazed by Barbarian Bones hammer, bleeding profusely. He quickly retreated, dodging Barbarian Bones hammer and wrote againIf you want to attack me, you must first attack yourself. Although the modernnguage is far less effective than the ssical text, he had no choice but to use it at this moment. Barbarian Bone continued to swing his hammer at Fang Hao, still not controlled. Fang Hao couldnt believe it. Does this barbarian not even recognize words! When Barbarian Bone leapt and swung his hammer at Fang Haos head, Fang Hao noticed that Barbarian Bone was closing his eyes! Barbarian Bone, having learned from Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou for a month, had be quite clever. After two exchanges, he realized that as long as he didnt look at the words Fang Hao wrote, he wouldnt be affected. So, he closed his eyes! When Barbarian Bones hammer fell, the referee intervened, blocking the strike. Had this strikended on Fang Hao, he would never be able to hold a pen again. The second round, Barbarian Bone wins. Qiu Jinans face turned somewhat unsightly, but having been bullied by the Dao Seeking Sects Nine since childhood, looking unsightly wasnt new to him; he was used to it. Evesting Fairy remarked, Worthy of the ancient barbarians, a natural-born race of fighters, even able to fight with their eyes closed. Do you know much about the ancient barbarians? Lu Yang asked. Evesting Fairy confidently replied, Of course, it wouldnt be an exaggeration to say I was a teacher to the ancient barbarians. You know those barbarians, not the brightest bulbs. Luckily, they heard of my intelligence, which stood out even among immortals, so they invited me to teach in their tribe. Teaching barbarians was hard; theyd forget what they learned the same day. But my perseverance was astounding, and I had enough patience. Eventually, I taught the barbarians the meaning of giving up. Later, I changed my strategy, directly infusing my wisdom into their minds and bloodlines, so even without my teachings, their intelligence would be second only to mine! Lu Yang gasped, Fairy, youve been poisoning them for millennia. Suddenly, Lu Yang realized something. With Evesting Fairys significant contributions to the ancient barbarians, it was strange that Barbarian Bone, being from the ancient barbarian race, had never heard of Evesting Fairy. Is there a gap in the ancient barbarians inheritance, or did someone deliberately erase Evesting Fairys existence? Forgetting an immortal on such a global scale, what magnitude of effort would that take? (End of the chapter) Chapter 168: Lu Yang Enters the Fray Chapter 168: Lu Yang Enters the Fray Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Next up, Dao Seeking Sects Li Haoran vs. Five Elements Sects Long Xiang. Is Li Haoran a fire spiritual root? Qiu Jinan suddenly asked. Yes, why? Its getting interesting, our sects Long Xiang is a water spiritual root. This time its fire vs. water. On the martial arts field, Li Haoran and Long Xiang exchanged bows. Please enlighten me. The pleasure is all mine. Both became silent, ceasing further conversation. As the match began, Long Xiang took the initiative, striking like a dragon leaping over the sea, giving off an overwhelming wave-like momentum. He wielded two ice des, releasingyers of cold air, causing the temperature of the entire martial arts field to drop. Dragon Strike! Long Xiang shouted, met by Li Haorans fist. Lu Yang frowned; Li Haoran wasnt a physical cultivator, so why was he fighting barehanded, not using any weapon? Even Barbarian Bone knew to fight with a weapon. Long Xiang, unaware of Li Haorans bottom line, didnt see a problem and shed at Li Haoran. Li Haorans body ignited withyers of fire rings. With amand, Go, the fire rings encircled Long Xiang. Water rises, mighty waves! Long Xiang executed the move, conjuring a phantom of sea waves behind him. The audience could faintly hear the sound of waves. The phantom waves diluted the fire rings. Seeing this, Li Haoran stepped forward, his red fist marksyer uponyer,nding on Long Xiang. Magma surged beneath Li Haorans feet, the result of soaking in magma for a year. The magma and phantom waves collided. Although they were just phantom waves, they generated steam upon contact with the magma, filling the arena with thick fog, making it hard to discern shapes, with only the sounds of Li Haoran and Long Xiang colliding audible. Li Haorans boxing was extraordinary,pletely different from his usual demeanor. Long Xiang, not adept at closebat, struggled to respond, getting hit several times. Fortunately, Li Haorans attackscked power, causing no severe damage upon impact. Long Xiang raised his hand, gathering the dense fog into a water column, smashing it down on Li Haoran. Unable to dodge, Li Haoran was struck by the water column, soaking him through. Li Haoran once again engaged Long Xiang, this time Long Xiang gaining the upper hand. For some reason, Li Haorans movements became sluggish. Li Haoran frowned, realizing the problem. Long Xiangughed heartily, Brother Li, youre smart to realize my trap so quickly, but its toote. Youre soaked by the water column, I can control the waters weight, and now youre fighting under a burden, naturally, you cant move as freely as before. Youve lost! Unexpectedly, Li Haoran revealed a slight smile, Is that so? I dont think so. Long Xiang tried to attack but found he couldnt move. What did you do! Long Xiangs eyes widened,pletely clueless about what happened. Li Haorans body red with mes, evaporating the steam. He leisurely approached Long Xiang, saying, Your clothes have been refined by me. Long Xiang then realized, the punches Li Haorannded on him werent meant to attack but to refine his clothes, turning them into a metaphorical iron bucket, with Long Xiang the trapped prey inside, with no escape. Dao Seeking Sects methods ofbat are so strange! Could a human evene up with such a method ofbat?! Li Haoran further exined, I heard from Senior Brother Lu Yang that during a fight, you could use a storage ring to take away an opponents clothes. That made me think, if we can take away the opponents clothes, why not refine them? Now it seems, my idea was correct. Qiu Jinan looked at Lu Yang in surprise, wondering how such an unscrupulous method of fighting was conceived. Oh right, this is the Dao Seeking Sect, that exins it. With three victories in three battles, the victory for the Foundation Building group was as good as confirmed. However, since this match was intended as an exchange, the results were predetermined, and the remaining two matches would still proceed. The fourth match features Peach Blossom Leaf, whose rarity and power exceed that of a single spiritual root, making it even stronger than Li Haoran in one-on-onebat. But to everyones surprise, Peach Blossom Leaf actually lost. The one who defeated Peach Blossom Leaf was a young man in white robes, with a mid-Foundational cultivation level, one year older than Peach Blossom Leaf. Peach Blossom Leaf is still in the early stages of Foundation Building, slightly inferior in spiritual qi andbat experiencepared to the young man in white robes. Next. The young man in white robes said coldly, choosing not to leave the stage but to continue fighting consecutively. Seeing the young man in white robes so strong, the fifth disciple chosen by Qiu Jinan, knowing his usual strength, didnt say anything and voluntarily gave up his chance topete. Peach Blossom Leaf was somewhat unwilling. She had always been the best since childhood and had never lost before. The opponents techniques were wless, and she lost without even being able to utilize the advantage of her Feathered Immortal Physique. Someone patted Peach Blossom Leaf on the shoulder. Seeing that person, tears welled up in Peach Blossom Leafs eyes: Senior brother, I lost. The person wiped away Peach Blossom Leafs tears,forting, Your cultivation isnt enough, your experience iscking, and youre a year younger than your opponent. Also, Eldest Senior Sister told me, the Feathered Immortal Physique doesnt have a significant advantage in the early stages. Since you call me senior brother, then I must win him over. Seeing a victory atst, Qiu Jinan introduced with a smile: This is my disciple, Bai Ming, also my proudest student. He has mastered three of the Five Elements techniques, and even his fire attribute qi is close to producing real fire. In the sectpetition, he swept through the Foundation Building stage and took the first ce. The cultivation of the Five Elements techniques is extremely difficult, with potential conflicts between the techniques themselves. A slight carelessness could ruin ones cultivation. Bai Ming, being proficient in three types of elemental qi in the Foundation Building stage, is extremely rare. Bai Mings appearance gave Qiu Jinan confidence: Not to brag, but it doesnt matter who they send. Despite losing three matches, Bai Mings overwhelming victory made Qiu Jinan very pleased. Who will your sect send for the next match? Me. Evesting Fairy spoke for Lu Yang. On the martial arts field, a figure walked slowly, with steady steps, neither fast nor slow, it was Lu Yang. Only this Lu Yang was bald-headed and had a kind face, vastly different from the usual impression Lu Yang gave. Bai Mings expression of indifference broke, showing disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost. Of course, he recognized Lu Yang, the acting sect master of Dao Seeking Sect, who was sitting in the stands. So, who was this person appearing before him?! A clone! Qiu Jinan, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the origin of the Lu Yang standing on the martial arts field. But that seemed even more impossible. Lu Yang was just at the Foundation Building stage, how could he possibly have a clone? In his understanding, there was no technique or qi that could achieve this! More urately, its the clone of the Bodhi Tree. Evesting Fairy added. Lu Yang used the Tree nting Scripture to nt himself, and two people grew from the Bodhi Tree, one the real self, the other a bald-headed clone. A clone from the Seventy-Two Transformations?! Qiu Jinan was astounded. Other than Yun Zhi, how could any other Foundation Building stage cultivator possibly learn such a spell? No, its a wood attribute clone! Qiu Jinans mind was in turmoil. Such a spell had never existed before; this was the creation of a new spell! Who was it?! Was it Yun Zhi, or was it Qiu Jinans gaze shifted to Lu Yang, his eyes twitching slightly. He had heard from people in the Dao Seeking Sect that Lu Yang had challenged higher levels, thinking it was achieved by some means. If this spell was indeed created by him, then the matter of challenging beyond ones level might not be exaggerated! (End of the chapter) Chapter 169: Five Elements Technique Clash Chapter 169: Five Elements Technique sh Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Dao Seeking Sect, Lu Yang. Five Elements Sect, Bai Ming. Bai Ming, as if facing a formidable enemy, noticed the change in his masters expression on the stands, yet no stop to the match was called. This indicated that the Lu Yang before him was defyingmon sense but not breaking any rules or cheating. Which was terrifying indeed. Whoosh The sound of a long spear slicing through the air marked the beginning of the battle. Bai Ming wielded a silver spear, gleaming under the sunlight. He was the first to attack Lu Yang, who calmly responded, sidestepping to the right. The Qingfeng Sword slid across the spears shaft, sending sparks flying. The Qingfeng Swords momentum undiminished, it continued along the spears shaft towards Bai Mings hands. Bai Ming flicked his wrist, the spear vibrated, deflecting the Qingfeng Swords attack. The sword light poured like rain, turning into a river, rolling down incessantly. The spear was vigorous, moving with great force, not fearing Lu Yangs sword technique, choosing to sh head-on. In the exchange of sword and spear, victory was decided in an instant, dazzling onlookers. Disciples from the Five Elements Sect were shocked, having never seen anyone at the same level engage Bai Ming in weaponbat ande out even. Even? Meng Jingzhou scoffed upon hearing this. From the start, Lu Yang had only used the most basic sword techniques in response, which were linked too smoothly for the Foundation Building disciples of the Five Elements Sect to notice. Meng Jingzhou knew the prowess of Lu Yangs swordsmanship best. Up to now, Lu Yang hadnt even used his sword techniques. Lu Yang rarely draws his sword, but that doesnt mean his swordsmanship isnt strong. As a sword spirit root, how could his swordsmanship not be formidable? Peach Blossom Leaf watched Lu Yang on the field intently, thinking of another issue. She was present when Lu Yang learned the Tree nting Scripture, and she vividly remembered the distance between Lu Yang and his nt clone was only twenty meters. Yet, the distance between Lu Yang on the stands and Lu Yang on the martial arts field was far more than twenty meters. What Peach Blossom Leaf didnt know was that after defeating the tiger demon, Lu Yang obtained a spell formanding ghost servants, which, after learning, became an astral projection technique. After acquiring the Bodhi Tree clone, Lu Yang astral projected into the nt clone, so he no longer had to worry about the distance between his body and the clone. In other words, Lu Yangs soul was now on the martial arts field, with the Lu Yang on the standspletely controlled by Evesting Fairy. On the martial arts field, Lu Yang seized an opportunity, flipping in the air, his right leg lifted high, concentrating all his strength on his right foot, stepping down on the spearhead of the silver spear. Bai Ming tried to withdraw his spear, but Lu Yangs body was like a mountain, firmly pressing down on it. Qingfeng Sword drew an arc in the air, piercing the sound barrier, aimed directly at Bai Ming! The audience gasped, but soon, disciples from the Five Elements Sect regained theirposure, Dont panic, dont forget Brother Bai Mings strength lies in the Five Elements Techniques. His spear technique is just a distraction! Bai Ming released the spear, quickly retreating, forming a seal with one hand. Arge earth snake rolled out from the ground. The martial arts field wasnt paved with stone bricks but made of special yellow earth, fixed with formations. Its the Earth Dragon from the Five Elements Technique! Long Xiang from the Five Elements Sect eximed. The dragon form has a special significance in the cultivation world. At this stage, Bai Ming couldnt transform earth into a dragon but could only manifest arge earth snake. Even so, casually summoning an earth snake wasnt something ordinary Foundation Building cultivators could achieve! Lu Yang seemed unconcerned, quietly uttering two words, passing through the earth dragon. Shrink Earth. Bai Mings pupils contracted. What spell was that? Was it one of the Five Elements Techniques? He didnt expect Lu Yang to also use Five Elements Techniques, and moreover, one of the extremely difficult to learn earth escape techniques! Even he had only scratched the surface of the earth escape technique, not having truly mastered it! Could it be that the opponents talent in spells surpasses his own?! How could that be possible, when he, like the founder of the Five Elements Sect, was born with a Five Elements immortal body, naturally proficient in the logic behind the Five Elements Techniques! Qiu Jinan, witnessing this scene, couldnt help but be moved: No, thats not the earth escape technique! He knew the Five Elements Techniques better than anyone, and the spell Lu Yang used didnt match any he knew. Another entirely new technique?! How was this created? Qiu Jinan turned to ask Evesting Fairy. Evesting Fairy, expressionless, replied: Learned it while studying Shrinking Earth into Inches.'' Hm? Qiu Jinans mind didnt make the connection. Were these two techniques rted? At this moment, the situation on the field changed again. Bai Ming switched from defense to offense, forming a seal with his hands. The killing aura of Metal and Earth condensed in the arena. Dozens of small knives flew out from his embrace, moving at hismand. Its the Metal Commanding Technique! Fang Hao from the Five Elements Sect named the technique. The Metal Commanding Technique allows one to manipte all metal materials. If cultivated to a high level, it could even control the opponents magical weapons, which is terrifying. Currently, Bai Ming could only control his own magical treasures, simr to Object Manipting Technique but more focused onbat. The dozens of small knives, like deadly weapons, surged from all directions, all aiming for Lu Yangs vital points! Faced with unavoidable attacks, Lu Yang pulled out a Golden Light Spell, cing it on his body. His body emitted intense bright light, forming a protective golden glow. This was something he bought with three thousand contribution points rewarded by Dai Bufan after returning from Yanjiang County to the Dao Seeking Sect. The knives, upon hitting Lu Yangs body surface, were directly deflected. Bai Ming sneered: Heh, just a talisman, limited in uses and duration, merely a minor trick. How many times can you block? After hearing this, Lu Yang removed the Golden Light Spell. Bai Ming continued to sneer: Given up resisting Lu Yang reapplied the Golden Light Spell, his body bursting with golden light, then removed and reapplied it repeatedly, causing the light to flicker intensely. The contrast was so stark that it almost blinded Bai Ming. Bai Ming had never thought the Golden Light Spell could be used in this manner. He had never encountered such a situation before, his eyelids instinctively wanting to close. Realizing that closing his eyes now would lead to Lu Yangs attack, he struggled against his bodys instinct, squinting his eyes. Just as he was fighting against his instinct, Lu Yang used the earth-traveling technique, suddenly emerging from beneath Bai Mings feet, delivering a powerful punch right to Bai Mings chin, knocking out a tooth! Golden Crow me! Bai Ming used his strongest attack, aiming to determine the victor in one strike. The fiery golden mes raged, with faint cries of the Golden Crow emanating from the fire. The heat was intense, instantly raising the temperature of the martial arts field by over twenty degrees, making the audience feel the oing mes! The one who reacted most strongly to the Golden Crow me in the audience was Long Xiang, a water spiritual root cultivator. Since ancient times, water and fire have been ipatible. The appearance of the Golden Crow me gave him a feeling of oppression, even slowing the cirction of spiritual energy in his body. So this is the Golden Crow me that established Brother Bai as the number one in the Foundation Building stage, truly powerful! I heard from the sect master that Brother Bais Golden Crow me is transforming into the higher Sun True Fire. Once Brother Bai forms his Golden Core, the Golden Crow me will smoothly evolve into Sun True Fire. Having true fire right at the beginning of the Golden Core stage is terrifying! Long Xiang turned his head, surprised to see Li Haoran, a fire spiritual root cultivator, showing no concern for Lu Yang, fully aware of the terror of the Golden Crow me. Arent you worried about Lu Yang? Li Haoran smiled, indirectly answering: Senior Brother Lu once asked me to forge a flying chariot. We worked together for three days and finallypleted it. During the forging process, Senior Brother Lu was responsible for providing the mes. Do you know what kind of fire that was? What fire? Samadhi True Fire. On the martial arts field, Bai Ming, confident of his victory, suddenly felt a wave of unease as the Golden Crow me blocked his view, preventing him from seeing Lu Yangs movements. Suddenly, his expression changed. He felt from Lu Yangs direction, a fiercer and more domineering me approaching. This feeling its true fire! (End of the chapter) Chapter 170: The Water Avoidance Charm Chapter 170: The Water Avoidance Charm Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The Great Void Pill Scripture is the most famous and universally acknowledged authoritative text in the cultivation world. Right from the beginning, the Great Void Pill Scripture rifies the most superior method of pill refining: Use the Great Void as the cauldron, Tai Chi as the furnace, purity as the pill base, non-action as the Dantian, life and death as lead and mercury, and the five organs as the fire. The Samadhi True Fire originates from this, thus, alchemists regard the Samadhi True Fire as a treasured me for pill refining. Samadhi True Fire can refine celestial materials and treasures. In a sense, cultivators are also considered celestial materials and treasures. The consequences of Samadhi True Fire encountering a cultivator are imaginable. And Lu Yangs Three vours True Fire, derived from Samadhi True Fire, although slightly less powerful, is equally formidable. On the martial arts field, Lu Yangs Three vours True Fire came fiercely, transforming into a fire dragon, tearing and devouring the Golden Crow me, forcefully ripping it apart. Bai Ming couldnt believe what he was seeing. Was it possible for someone to learn True Fire at the Foundation Building stage, especially the renowned Samadhi True Fire? This was hard for him to ept, having been praised and admired since childhood. In the stands, originally, Qiu Jinan saw his prized disciple Bai Ming disying the Golden Crow me, shining brightly, excitedly pping his thigh. Then, he saw Lu Yang deploying True Fire, quickly losing his smile. Is this Samadhi True Fire? No, its very close to Samadhi True Fire! Qiu Jinan searched through his minds True Fires, finding none that matched. A terrifying thought dawned on him: could this be a me outside the known 108 kinds of True Fire? Was it previously unrecorded and undiscovered, or had it just been created? Sect Master Lu, what kind of True Fire is this? Evesting Fairy casually said: Nothing much, just a me used for roasting skewers. Sect Master Qiu, no need to make a fuss. Evesting Fairys attitude further solidified Qiu Jinans thoughts, and he inwardly gasped. How could this Sect Master Lu be so powerful, not only mastering wood, earth, and fire techniques like Bai Ming but also creating techniques on top of that! Creating techniques was one thing, but creating True Fire? Bai Ming, burnt by the Three vours True Fire and struck by Lu Yangs sessful punch to the chest, carrying a mix of sweet, salty, and spicy vors, flew out, his breath weak, barely hanging on. In mid-flight, realizing the overall situation had turned against him, he pondered whether to graciously admit defeat or hopelessly wait for the match result to be announced. Scenes shed through Bai Mings mind Being brought up the mountain by his master as a child, growing up under the care of senior brothers and sisters, diligently reading books, practicing hard, with his master bing strict during cultivation, scolding him to correct his attitude and posture, and after cultivation, applying medicine, encouraging him to persist. His sweaty back during cultivation, his unwavering focus, his understanding of techniques, enduring through heat and loneliness, building a strong foundation, rapidly growing from the Qi Refining stage to the mid-Foundation Building stage, never experiencing defeat. Bai Ming closed his eyes, contemting his battle with Lu Yang, feeling as if something was budding within him. Hended steadily, hands together, standing on one foot, his breath bing more robust. Opening his eyes, Bai Ming radiated power beyond his own. Breakthrough to thete Foundation Building stage? Qiu Jinan was overjoyed to see his disciple breaking through. Bai Ming had been stuck in the mid-Foundation Building stage for months, indeed due for a breakthrough, but he hadnt expected it to be now. Disciples from the Five Elements Sect whispered among themselves, marveling at the turn of events. Lu Yang didnt know how to react, just when victory seemed within reach, a breakthrough? Isnt that supposed to happen to me? Well, then lets continue. Lu Yang lifted the Qingfeng Sword, he hadnt yet shown his true skills. The chopping and breaking techniques hadnt been used. The Shape-Imitating Fist would be set aside, that technique was too far-fetched, and Lu Yang still had some conscience. Lu Yang, Lu Yang, switch with me! Evesting Fairy called out to Lu Yang, intrigued by the excitement of the battle and wanting to join in on the action. Evesting Fairy, in her immortal soul state, isnt bound by the twenty-meter limitation and can split off a strand of consciousness into Lu Yangs clone at any time, as long as Lu Yang agrees. Lu Yang was somewhat skeptical. Could he rely on Evesting Fairy? Evesting Fairy, hands on her hips, gestured towards Lu Yang, Im the sect master; you should listen to me! Reluctantly, Lu Yangplied. Well, if the sect masters status is being invoked, then let it be. If it looks like they are losing, he can always take back control. Evesting Fairy gleefully took control of the bald Lu Yang clone, raising her right hand and pointing a finger in a somewhat seductive manner. Bai Ming found Lu Yangs gaze strange. If the Lu Yang from before resembled a monk, the one now seemed like a nun? Could this be a case of split personality? Bai Ming had heard of a saying in the cultivation world, Without bing a demon, one cannot survive. There have been many instances in history of cultivators ending up with split personalities due to intense practice, and those who made history undoubtedly possessed extraordinary strength. Could it be that Lu Yangs strength stems from having a split personality? The more Bai Ming thought about it, the more it made sense. Evesting Fairy slowly lifted her finger, magical power twining around her fingertip, softly chanting, The Water Avoidance Charm. An invisible barrier unfolded, with Evesting Fairy at its center, repelling all moisture within its range. Originally, after the sh of two mes, there wasnt much moisture left on the field. Now, the vicinity around Evesting Fairy waspletely devoid of any water content! But that wasnt the most terrifying part. Bai Mings body also contained water, which was rapidly being drawn away from him! Lu Yangs body also contained water, but as the caster, the rate at which water left his body was much slower than Bai Mings! Bai Ming, watching his body desate, was at a loss. He had no way to counter this technique, which was beyond hisprehension. When the Water Avoidance Charm was cast, there were no visible signs, making it seem as if nothing had happened to outsiders. Only those who experienced it firsthand knew the horror of this technique! We concede! Qiu Jinan personally intervened, stopping the loss of moisture from Bai Ming and administered a pill to help him recover. He looked deeply at Lu Yang, truly a figure capable of bing the acting sect master, mastering four of the five elemental techniques, including the water attribute technique, which is a forbidden grand divine ability recorded in ancient texts! Lu Yang was astounded. Was this the effect of the Water Avoidance Charm described by Evesting Fairy? So terrifying? Evesting Fairy chuckled, Its just alright. Too bad your current realm is too low, and your senior brothers and sisters are all full Golden Core cultivators, with their water essence locked within, unaffected by this technique. Once you reach the Golden Core stage, Ill use your body to cast it, and none of them will be a match for me! Can you teach me? Lu Yang eagerly asked, wanting to learn this technique. Evesting Fairy tilted her head, You looked down on my inheritance, so no, I wont teach you! Please, Fairy Sister. No! When I say no, it means no! When Qiu Jinan returned to the stands, he found that Sect Master Lu had disappeared, reced by Yun Zhi sitting next to him. Although he had mentioned wanting someone else to sit next to him, he didnt mean Yun Zhi. Qiu Jinan felt the temperature around him drop a few degrees. Miss Yun Zhi, where did Sect Master Lu go? Qiu Jinan tried to start a conversation, hoping to break the chilly atmosphere. There are some guests skilled in barbecuing outside the sect gate; he went to invite them in. Ah? (End of the chapter) Chapter 171: Blessed by Everlasting Celestial on This Journey Chapter 171: Blessed by Evesting Celestial on This Journey (TL Note: I forgot to schedule chapters so Im uploading 3 chapters today as my apology) Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Outside the gate of the Dao Seeking Sect, eight inly dressed men gathered together, discussing matters. The Five Elements Sect, those rich dogs, are literally swimming in spirit stones, building such a massive flying ship, plus a whole bunch of useless designs! If we had that many spirit stones, many ns could have been realized! One of the high-ranking members of the Undying Sect eyed the flying ship parked outside the Dao Seeking Sect, drooling with the thought of stealing it. Vice Sect Leader Liu reprimanded the other for hisck of sophistication: Calm down! Look at you, acting like youve never seen the world. If our mission goes smoothly, causing the Dao Seeking Sect to fall into slumber and allowing us to loot at will, why worry about not being able to afford such an airship? Another high-ranking member of the Undying Sect expressed concerns about their ns: But can our n really seed? Weve never infiltrated the Dao Seeking Sect before! To them, the Dao Seeking Sect was akin to a dragonsir. Please rest assured, gentlemen. Our undercover agent in the Dao Seeking Sect has provided us with the activity schedule and a map of the war zone, ensuring our safety! Tang Yunsheng spoke up, his position and cultivation level were the lowest among them as an inspector. Even the helmsmen had to pay him respects, but here, he was at the bottom of the hierarchy. Right, Little Tang is correct. Another vice sect leader spoke, his name was Gao Zheni, a cultivator in the early stages of Unity. Moreover, we are all believers of the Evesting Celestial, the symbol of wisdom, power, and luck. With the Evesting Celestials blessing, our mission will surely be a sess! May the Evesting Celestial bless us! May the Evesting Celestial bless us! The eight men whispered, afraid of being overheard. Youve been waiting for a while. Lu Yang came to greet his subordinates. His public identity was the acting sect master of the Dao Seeking Sect, but in secret, he was the sect leader of the Undying Sect, ying both sides. Let me introduce, this is the sessful infiltrator into the Dao Seeking Sect, our loyal follower, Lu Yang. Tang Yunsheng introduced him and then quietly asked, What about the other two? Where was the leadership reception for just one person? Lu Yang exined, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone are busy grilling skewers and cant get away. Tang Yunsheng then introduced the seven high-ranking members of the Undying Sect, including Vice Sect Leaders Liu and Gao, as well as five elder guests. Tang Yunsheng was responsible for coordination. Without him entering the Dao Seeking Sect, his Nascent Soul Stage cultivation wouldnt make a ssh there, and his presence wasnt necessary. Lu Yang warned his seven subordinates, The Dao Seeking Sect is extremely dangerous for us from the Undying Sect, like entering a dragons den. Please follow my instructions carefully. If anything goes wrong, we will have nowhere to bury our bodies! The seven frowned, feeling an instinctive dislike for taking orders from someone in the Foundation Building Stage, but considering that visitors to a mental hospital must follow the guide to avoid attacks from patients, they let it go. Lead the way. The gatekeeper disciples saw the acting sect master leading people into the sect and did not stop them, letting them through directly. Vice Sect Leader Liu was surprised at how easily they entered the Dao Seeking Sect. Lu Yang exined with a smile, The disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect oftene to our ce for skewers. After a while, we got to know each other, and they generally dont make things difficult for me. Vice Sect Leader Liu patted Lu Yangs shoulder, I didnt expect you to blend in so well with the people of the Dao Seeking Sect. This is something many cultivators cant achieve even if they go mad. Well done. Its a pity youre of such a low realm now, or I would promote you no matter what! Lu Yang thought to himself that he could still be promoted further; any more and he would be a patriarch. Hmm? Wait, whats a patriarch? Isnt it the founder of a sect? Since Ive resurrected the Evesting Fairy and given the Undying Sect a faith, Im essentially doing what a patriarch does! Lu Yang felt that it was only logical and rightful for him to be a patriarch, and he wouldnt need topete for the position with the fake sect leader of the Undying Sect. The hierarchical order of the Undying Sect has now be clear, with the Evesting Fairy at the highest level, followed by the patriarch Lu Yang, and then the sect leader, vice sect leaders, and other minor figures. Considering that the Evesting Fairy is already a guest elder of the Dao Seeking Sect and a temporary three-day acting sect master, its reasonable to regard the Undying Sect as a branch of the Dao Seeking Sect. Upon arriving inside the Dao Seeking Sect, Vice Sect Leader Liu and the others were curious, but they dared not release their spiritual senses and only observed with their eyes. They were on edge the entire way, fearing detection by the Dao Seeking Sect. Fortunately, the riskiest part has already happened, and worrying now was toote. On the martial arts field, the first match of the Golden Core group began, featuring Brother Luo Hai from the Dao Seeking Sect, who had been challenged beyond his level by the Evesting Fairy. Brother Luo Hai was proficient in water attribute techniques, as was his opponent. Their battle saw waves crashing against each other, with the roar of tides, and the scale of their fight was unlike any typical Golden Core phase battle. Here we are, this is our base! Lu Yang arrived at a barbecue restaurant named Come Again. This was a shop arranged by Dai Bufan well in advance, managed by others until now. During the exchange event, it was temporarily handed over to Lu Yang and two others. Barbarian Bone was skillfully grilling skewers, and the spacious shop had only a few people inside. Other shops were just starting to open at this time. Thepetition between the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect included four major groups. Only the Foundation Establishment group had proceeded so far. The battles of the other three groups, due to their longer durations, strategies, and tactics, were more interesting and attractive to the audience, which was the highlight of the exchange meeting. Therefore, the shops chose this time to start business. Greetings to the vice sect master Barbarian Bone put down his work, intending to salute, but was stopped by Vice Sect Master Liu. Given the dangerous circumstances, lets keep things simple. Yes, please take a seat, Barbarian Bone invited them. Wheres Meng Jingzhou? Lu Yang looked around but couldnt find him. Oh, Brother Meng said hes going to check out other shops to see how their business is doing and if we need toe up with a strategy against them. Lu Yang frowned, about to scold Meng Jingzhou for not focusing on important matters. The sess or failure of the Undying Sect depended on this, how could he be distracted by trivial matters? Vice Sect Master Liu stopped Lu Yang, Eh, no need to be angry. As the saying goes, y the part fully. Mengs actions also fit those of a barbecue shop employee, which is understandable. Vice Sect Master Liu continued, However, its difficult to proceed with one person missing. Little Barbarian, go find Meng Jingzhou and bring him back. You three are most familiar with the Dao Seeking Sect, lets discuss our next actions together. Yes! Barbarian Bone hurried out of the barbecue shop. Before leaving, Barbarian Bone mentioned, By the way, Brother Lu, someone pre-ordered our skewers, and Im almost done grilling them. Remember to deliver them. Alright. Lu Yang took over Barbarian Bones task and continued grilling skewers, his movements skilled, showing he was a veteran of thirty years. Vice Sect Master Liu nodded in approval; Lu Yangs movements were standard, not much different from what he had learned. After grilling, Lu Yang said, Please wait a moment, esteemed guests. I need to deliver a meal. Hold on, where to? Ill send someone to deliver it for you, Vice Sect Master Liu stopped Lu Yang. If Lu Yang left, there would only be the seven of them left in the barbecue shop. Lu Yang pointed to a distant stand, Its ordered by the bigwigs in the stands. Vice Sect Master Liu was at a loss for words; the stands were upied by the high-ranking members of the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect, all at the Unity Stage. If they went to deliver the meal, their identities could easily be exposed. Go ahead, go ande back quickly! Vice Sect Master Liu gestured. Lu Yang, carrying the meal box, quickly walked out. Not long after Lu Yang left, a pure and beautiful girl noticed the ce. Oh, Come Again BBQ shop, what an interesting name. Since you guys are starting a business, give me twenty mutton skewers. If its good, Ill order more! It was Shangguan Yu. (End of the chapter) Chapter 172: The Dedicated High-Ranks of the Undying Sect Chapter 172: The Dedicated High-Ranks of the Undying Sect Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Mutton skewers? Vice Sect Master Liu frowned. They were here to show the Dao Seeking Sect a lesson, not to actually work. Hey, dont you do business when customerse? Shangguan Yu found it odd. Do the Dao Seeking Sects shops also have such a unique characteristic of not doing business when they open? The Second Elder followed behind Shangguan Yu, eyeing Vice Sect Master Liu and his group suspiciously: You guys look unfamiliar. I havent seen you in the Dao Seeking Sect. Could it be that youre Vice Sect Master Liu immediately recognized the Second Elder Bayan, a high-ranking and influential figure of the Dao Seeking Sect at the peak of the Unity Stage. Being suspected by such a person could likely blow their cover. He quickly put on a smile, signaling the other six to get up and serve the customer: The shopkeeper is away on business, and we were temporarily pulled in to help. You ordered twenty mutton skewers, right? Please wait a moment; it will be ready soon. As members of a demonic sect, having a cruel and cold smile is a required skill, but being able to switch smiles at will is also essential. Vice Sect Master Liu rolled up his sleeves, tied on a white apron with ck borders hanging on the wall, and took out twenty-five mutton skewers from a basin: You are our first customer today, so Im giving you five extra skewers. A few flies attracted by the smell of the meat were shooed away by Vice Sect Master Liu. The Second Elder was still somewhat skeptical: This shop doesnt seem very clean Vice Sect Master Liu quickly responded: Old Gao, bring out the formation! Vice Sect Master Gao took out a set of formations from his storage ring andid it on the ground, causing the flies to instantly flee the barbecue shop. Those who opened shops in the Dao Seeking Sect were no ordinary people, so using storage rings and formations wouldnt arouse suspicion. Vice Sect Master Liu smiled and exined: Absolutely clean, this is an insect repelling formation we brought from outside. Vice Sect Master Liu was always meticulous in his work. He flipped and shook the skewers with one hand while sprinkling barbecue seasoning with the other. The fragrance of the mutton, ignited by the charcoal fire, was mouth-watering. Vice Sect Master Lius proficiency was not inferior to that of Lu Yang. They had specifically sought out the best local barbecue master and learned painstakingly for three days just for this moment! Do you eat spicy? Shangguan Yu thought for a moment. She wasnt very good with spicy food, but felt something was missing without it: Mildly spicy, please. Alright. Vice Sect Master Liu continued to grill the skewers while shouting out. Come and see, fresh grasndmb, ughtered and prepared on the spot, with meat and tendons, fragrant and chewy, an unforgettable taste! This was what the mortal barbecue master used to shout, and he told them that the louder they shouted, the more customers they would attract. Perhaps because he had heard the mortal barbecue master shout so many times, Vice Sect Master Liu, inspired by the moment, also gave it a try. Indeed, it worked, and gradually, Dao Seeking Sect disciples started to gather around. Here, your skewers are ready. Vice Sect Master Liu handed the mutton skewers to Shangguan Yu. How much? Vice Sect Master Liu had no idea about the pricing; he nced at the price list hanging on the wall and was shocked. Were the prices in the Dao Seeking Sect always this high? What Vice Sect Master Liu didnt know was that the prices in the Dao Seeking Sect were not usually high, but they had been temporarily raised because of the event. Shangguan Yu slightly opened her mouth to take a bite. The meat was fragrant and juicy, to the point where she couldnt tell if it was her saliva or the juice from the meat. Delicious, delicious, give me fifty more skewers! And two grilled pigs trotters. The biggest advantage for cultivators eating food is that no matter how much they eat, they wont feel full. As long as they want to eat, they can enjoy the feast to their hearts content. Of course, this characteristic wouldnt have a chance to be disyed at the feast prepared by the Evesting Fairy. Seeing how Shangguan Yu was enjoying her food, saliva dripped from the mouths of the people around, and they mored for skewers, following her lead. Vice Sect Master Gao weed the customers: Theres space inside, space inside, no need to crowd outside, you cane in to order! The five visiting elders busied themselves serving the customers. On the martial training ground, the first match of the Golden Core group finished, and there was still some time before the second match started. Many disciples, including those from both the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect, chose to eat while watching the battles. They noticed that one barbecue shop was unusually bustling with business. Lets check it out. As more and more disciples came to eat skewers, Vice Sect Master Liu felt a confidence welling up inside him. Ive always said, what does it matter how bustling Lu Yangs barbecue shop in Yanjiang County is? That was before I made my move. If I did, what business would Lu Yang have? Old Gao, there are too many orders, I cant keep up. Set up another stall! Alright! Unexpectedly, Vice Sect Master Gaos barbecue skills were not the slightest bit inferior to Vice Sect Master Liu!! Up in the stands, Lu Yang delivered skewers to the Eldest Senior Sister, and was met with Qiu Jinans surprised gaze. Why would Sect Master Lu stoop to selling skewers? What has happened in such a short time, and what urred during it? Qiu Jinan couldnt figure it out. How are the preparations going? There are only seven customers left in the shop, ording to the n, disciples wille to order, and there should be no idents. Got it, go back. When Lu Yang returned, he nced at the martial training ground. The second match had already begun, with Senior Sister Yi Jing, who was also challenged by the Evesting Fairy across levels, representing the Dao Seeking Sect. Lu Yang noticed the senior brothers and sisters watching below, holding many skewers, and was somewhat surprised. Even Bai Ming, who had just lost, was holding a bunch and eating deliciously. Whats going on? When Lu Yang got back, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone had already returned to the barbecue shop, bustling around, assisting the two vice sect masters. Those secretly arranged to buy skewers couldnt even line up properly. Seeing Lu Yang, they spread their hands in helplessness. The Second Elder, eating skewers by the roadside, greasy-mouthed, greeted Lu Yang: Where did you find these people? Their skewering skills are top-notch. Shangguan Yu also expressed her desire to visit the Dao Seeking Sect more often. Lu Yang: Make way, make way, Lu Yang shouted, wanting to see what was happening inside. The crowded person frowned: Whats the push for? Dont you know to line up? Im a staff member! Seeing Lu Yang, the crowded person twitched his mouth and made way. He suddenly remembered his masters warning, that there would be demonic cult infiltrators at the exchange site, and Lu Yang nned to capture them all in one go. Could the people in this barbecue shop be from the demonic cult? He stared at the two vice sect masters grilling skewers for a long time but felt he might have been mistaken. The Dao Seeking Sects elders had already greeted everyone, saying if Lu Yang appeared where he shouldnt be, not to panic, just pretend not to know him. Seeing Lu Yang return, Vice Sect Master Liu was overjoyed: Little Lu is back, just in time, you go and maintain order, let everyone line up properly. Lu Yang: Do you even remember what youre here for? Lu Yang originally intended to find a few customers to upy them, but he hadnt expected to make the barbecue shop thrive. Lu Yang noticed the genuinely happy smile on Barbarian Bones face and Meng Jingzhous expression of reliving the days in Yanjiang County, not knowing where to begin with hisints. The Evesting Fairy nodded in satisfaction: Worthy of my followers, the self-reliance capability is quite good, though the skill level of these skewers needs improvement. Lu Yang, let me take over the body. Ill show you what divine-level skewering is, everyone will learn from it. The Evesting Fairy, getting excited, didnt care about the principle of not transmitting thew lightly anymore, moring to show off her skills. Hearing this, Lu Yang quickly stopped the Evesting Fairy. Please dont add to the chaos! (End of the chapter) Chapter 173: This Seems More Profitable Than Working at the Undying Sect Chapter 173: This Seems More Profitable Than Working at the Undying Sect Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii As night fell, the sect members began to crave a wonderful and rxing meal. A short distance from the martial training ground, there was an inconspicuous little shop. Without any organization, people, attracted by the aroma, unanimously chose this ce, the Come Again BBQ Shop. Just like the name of the barbecue shop, customers who have eaten once wanted toe again to satisfy their ever-hungry stomachs. Many customers who came here for barbecue were drawn by the Barbarian tribe specialtymb dish. The Barbarian barbecue form, passed down for hundreds of thousands of years from ancient times to the present, remains ever popr. The barbecue form must be prepared on the same day. The Barbarian ancestors had a deep understanding of mixing spices for roasting beef andmb. The subtle difference in the taste of skewers among the more than ten barbecue shops in the Dao Seeking Sect lies in these spices. Master Liu, also serving as the Vice Sect Master of the Undying Sect, had a different opinion. He believed that the best ingredients only need the simplest cooking methods. For skewers, the most important things are the heat and the heart. Master Liu treated each skewering session as a battle, giving it his all without ck, remaining calm and meticulous in controlling the heat even when orders piled up like a mountain, immersed in his own world. Eating is like going to war, a timeless truth. A well-operated barbecue shop naturally also requires the cooperation of logistics staff. The logistics staff at the Come Again barbecue shop, serving as temporary employees, had never dealt with such things before. However, they seemed naturally fit for the job, serving customers with a tacit understanding; one kept the ounts, another cleaned up, and another washed the dishes, coordinating perfectly like brothers. However, no shop is perfect, and no matter how well they cooperated, there were still those who were absent-minded and distracted. Whats the matter with you, Little Lu? Cant you focus on your work? Master Gao, also serving as the Vice Sect Master of the Undying Sect, scolded Little Lu for hisck of concentration. Lu Yang: Was I too hasty in bing the sect master of the Undying Sect? This Undying Sect doesnt seem to have much of a future; maybe I should just honestly be a disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect. You want to leave the sect? The Evesting Fairy stared at Lu Yang with a displeased expression, daring to talk about leaving the sect in front of the faith itself. Fairy, do you have something else to do? If not, please go back to sleep. Of course, theres something. Go tell Little Gao that the way hes grilling the skewers is wrong. Theyre too tender. Use a higher me, it needs to have a charred vor to be strong enough. Hurry up and say it, this is amand from a deity. The Evesting Fairy urged. In ancient times, whatever she said was taken very seriously, considered as divine guidance. People would analyze her words from various angles. Now, she doesnt receive the same treatment; Lu Yang acts as if he didnt hear her at all. Barbarian Bone secretly found Lu Yang, looking worried: Brother Lu, this cant go on. Lu Yang was pleased, thinking someone finally realized there was a problem. We didnt prepare so many skewers; at this rate, well soon be sold out! Lu Yang began to reflect, wondering if the problem was with Barbarian Bones thinking or his own. What, were running out of skewers? One of the high-level members of the Undying Sect changed his expression upon hearing this; this was no small matter. This high-level member, named Jiang Yitian, was responsible for collecting payments. Then go out and buy more quickly! Barbarian Bone shook his head: The skewers are marinated in advance. The quality of meat bought now cannot be guaranteed, not to mention theres not enough time for marination. As a member of the ancient Barbarian tribe, Barbarian Bone couldnt tarnish the brand of the Barbarian barbecue. Very principled! praised the Evesting Fairy. In ancient times, she also tasted the Barbarian barbecue, which was indeed exceptional, though it didnt focus on nutritional bnce. The Evesting Fairy always paid attention to nutritional bnce in cooking and had given the Barbarian tribe constructive improvement suggestions, but the tribe didnt listen and stood firm in their ways. By the time thepetition on the martial training ground reached the end of the Nascent Soul group, the skewers were sold outpletely. Everyone began to summarize todays earnings. Damn it, werent we here to cause trouble for the Dao Seeking Sect? What are you all doing, ying house here? Vice Sect Master Liu took the initiative to scold, realizing he had been too engrossed in barbecuing and neglected their mission, but he couldnt possibly admit his mistake in public. True to the nature of a demonic cult vice sect master, skilled at doing wrong, he was quick to me others before being used. Vice Sect Master Gao also reprimanded everyone: Where are your principles? Are you doing your tasks so carelessly, worthy of the Evesting Celestial? What everyone stifled in their hearts was that it was the two of them who were the most engrossed just now. Jiang Yitian, who was in charge of collecting payments, thought for a moment and seriously said: Is it still possible for us to switch to running a barbecue shop now? Another high-ranking member raised his eyebrows: What do you mean, open a barbecue shop? Are you nning to abandon your faith in the Evesting Celestial? But really, running a barbecue shop in the Dao Seeking Sect makes a lot of money. The high-ranking member disdainfully said: How much can you earn? As much as a months offerings for all of usbined. The high-ranking member lowered his head in thought: Keeping the Evesting Celestial statue on one side and running a barbecue shop on the other doesnt seem to conflict with the teachings. Vice Sect Master Liu scolded the high-ranking member for being unsteady in his principles: This is absurd, we, as loyal believers of the Evesting Celestial, how could you have such a Its as much as a months offerings for all of usbined. Having such an idea is a fortune for the Undying Sect! Vice Sect Master Liu changed his tune, starting to n for the future: We can open chain stores, covering the entire continent, not only solving the employment problem for the sect members but also making money. By then, well be major taxpayers in the Great Xia Dynasty! Vice Sect Master Gao angrily said: Have you considered whether the prices elsewhere will be as outrageous as in the Dao Seeking Sect, whether the holiday consumption level can be the same as usual? Youre only looking at the immediate profits, not considering the long-term! Most importantly, once we open chain stores, who can guarantee that all sect members barbecuing skills will be the same as ours! Prepare to depart, to the martial training ground! Lu Yang sighed secretly, the original n was to use the customers to keep them upied, giving them a chance, but unfortunately, the skewers sold too quickly, notsting until the end of the event. To maximize the effect of the Yellow Millet Pillow, specific positions are needed. Little Lu, you three lead us to scout the martial training ground. Once the momentes, immediately activate the immortal treasure. By then, youll be the great contributors! Lu Yang, with a solemn expression, looked as if ready to make a noble sacrifice: We dont seek credit, dedicating ourselves to the Undying Sect is our duty! Good, I indeed wasnt wrong about you! Vice Sect Master Liu greatly appreciated Lu Yang, truly a person under the sect masters special attention, indeed withmendable qualities. Under the leadership of the Undying Sects patriarch, the subordinates arrived at the martial training ground and dispersed to their positions. Vice Sect Master Liu, watching the battles on the martial training ground, nodded slightly. Worthy of disciples from the Five Great Immortal Sects, although their cultivation was not high, their methods ofbat weremendable, with no faults to pick. He said to the great patriarch, Little Lu, watch these battles closely; they will be very beneficial to you. (End of the chapter) Chapter 174: Take Action! Chapter 174: Take Action! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii At this moment, the fifth battle of the Nascent Soul group was nearing its end, featuring Ma Tianyang, who was also challenged by the Evesting Fairy across levels. Vice Sect Master Liumented, This Ma Tianyang is at thete stage of Nascent Soul, whereas on the Five Elements Sects side, theres a peak Nascent Soul Stage practitioner. Both are disciples of immortal sects, receiving roughly the same resources. At this point, external methods no longer work; what matters is cultivation. A slight difference in cultivation can determine victory or defeat. Ma Tianyang is not far from losing. Just as Vice Sect Master Liu predicted, Ma Tianyang gradually fell into a disadvantage. His opponent grew stronger as the battle progressed, aiming to defeat Ma Tianyang in one fell swoop. Ma Tianyang was a talisman cultivator. The various talismans he drew were considered premium goods in the outside world. If a small family acquired one, it could be treasured as a family heirloom, delivering a fatal blow at a critical moment to save the family. Unfortunately, Ma Tianyangs opponent controlled thunder, with thunderous sounds and lightning-fast speed. Each lightning strike precisely disrupted Ma Tianyangs talisman drawing rhythm, preventing him from leveraging the advantage of a talisman cultivator. Just when the opponent thought the victory was assured and pressed on the attack, Ma Tianyang pressed his palms down hard. Countless runes shed, forming a majestic mountain, suppressing the opponent. The opponent, trapped under the mountain, couldnt mobilize any spiritual power and was defeated in confusion, A Thousand Catty Mountain Talisman! Such a talisman cant be stored on paper; it has to be drawn on the spot. But even for you, drawing it on the spot should take five minutes. Where did you find the time! Ma Tianyang sneered, Ive been drawing all along; you just didnt see it. How is that possible! Where were you drawing it! Ma Tianyang pointed to his body, My blood vessels. While fighting you, I was adjusting the positions of my blood vessels. I (redacted curse words) (TL Note: The author just put a bunch of symbols) The martial training grounds array wasprehensive and considerate, including an automatic profanity filtering array. To outsiders, it all sounded like beeping noises. The opponent thought he had observed the Dao Seeking Sect for so long that he almost grasped their strategies, not realizing he was still far off. Vice Sect Master Lius eyes twitched, not expecting Ma Tianyang to have such a trick up his sleeve. He was careless for not noticing it. Blood contains spiritual power, so adjusting blood vessels to form talisman patterns is indeed feasible, even more ingenious than drawing talismans externally, with no loss of spiritual power. But the question remains, is drawing talismans with blood vessels something a normal person would think of! Vice Sect Master Liu said indifferently, teaching Lu Yang, Dont learn this kind ofbat method. Blood vessel knots can easily lead to thrombosis. Lu Yang thought Vice Sect Master Liu was being overly cautious. He had heard that Brother Ma Tianyang could untie even the tightest knots in his blood vessels. After the Nascent Soul group, it was time for thest group, the Spirit Transformation group. This was the highest-value group in the exchange event. Watching a battle between Spirit Transformation Stage practitioners could bring tremendous benefits! Representing the Dao Seeking Sect in battle was a senior brother from the Pellet Cauldron Peak named Lu Wang, whom Lu Yang had not seen before. Whispers among the crowd, Its actually Senior Brother Lu; its been a long time since Ive seen him. I heard that during his Core Formation, he failed three times because he was dissatisfied with his one-pattern golden core. Why is that? He insists that the golden core is also a type of pill, and a golden core without patterns or fragrance is a failure. So, he kept trying to form a golden core with fragrance. (TL Note: The word core () is the same word for pill) Did he seed? He did. Senior Brother Lu really formed a golden core with fragrance. Whats so special about this kind of golden core? It smells really good. Lu Yang asked his subordinate, Little Liu, who do you think will win? Huh? Vice Sect Master Liu thought he heard wrong. What did this kid just call him? Lu Yang calmly exined, In the outside world, youre hired as a temporary employee, and Im your boss. We must y our parts convincingly. If Im too respectful to you, itll look fake. Our n is about to be implemented, and we cant afford to give ourselves away now! Vice Sect Master Liu nodded, epting Lu Yangs reasoning. Lu Wang is well-known within the Spirit Transformation Stage, with few willing to face him as an opponent. He practices both pill and poison cultivation, with his poison being stronger than his pills. Unfortunately, Lu Wang is out of luck, meeting an opponent who counters him. Ive heard about his opponent, who grew up in the Five Poisons Pit and has developed a body immune to all poisons. Faced with him, Lu Wang cant utilize his strengths. On the martial training ground, Lu Wang faced off against a disciple from the Five Elements Sect. Lu Wang first tested his opponent with bone-eroding poison smoke, which, just as Vice Sect Master Liu mentioned, did not affect the opponent at all. The poison smoke was useless against him. This is going to be tough, Lu Wang felt somewhat challenged. The opponent sneered, Give up, Lu Wang. You could win against anyone else, but against me, youre bound to lose! The battle of the Spirit Transformation Stage wasnt limited to the ground. The two fighters moved between flying in the sky and burrowing into the earth, with victories on both sides. The opponent had greater strength than Lu Wang, putting Lu Wang at a disadvantage. Lu Wang pulled out a pill that increased strength, which was allowed in thepetition. Just as Lu Wang was about to consume it, the opponent snatched it away and swallowed it. The opponent sneered, Thinking of using a pill? Youd need the opportunity to do so first! After swallowing the pill, the opponent felt his strength rapidly declining. Whats going on! The opponent was shocked, as this was not supposed to happen. Lu Wang punched the opponent, sending him flying: The Ten Elephants Strength Pill, granting the user the strength of ten elephants. Except its meant for those at the Foundation Establishment level. In other words, you can now only exert the strength of ten Foundation Establishment level elephants. You (more redacted curse words) Be content, I didnt give you the mating season version of the Ten Elephants Strength Pill. You should be grateful for that. Lu Wang threw the opponent out of the ring. After the four battles of the Spirit Transformation group, Vice Sect Master Liu didnt predict any oues correctly. It wasnt that Vice Sect Master Liucked insight; it was that the Dao Seeking Sects Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators were too unpredictable. Vice Sect Master Liu took a deep breath to calm himself, as they were about to take action and couldnt let these distractions affect their mood. He noticed everyone was in the right positions, forming the Yellow Millet Formation to maximize the effect of the Yellow Millet Pillow. ording to the Evesting Fairy, this was a sleeping formation she often used, very effective. Vice Sect Master Liu heard the Dao Seeking Sect announcing the closing remarks: The friendly exchange meeting between the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect now concludes. We are delighted to have spent this wonderful time with everyone Everyones attention was focused on the stage, the perfect moment to take action! Vice Sect Master Liu raised his hand and shouted, Take action! Dao Seeking Sect disciples lurking nearby, hearing themand, appeared in unison and charged towards the high-ranking members of the Undying Sect. They remembered Lu Yang saying that someone would shout take action, and to start moving as soon as they heard it. They had spected who would give the order, with some guessing it was Lu Yang, others Meng Jingzhou, and some even guessed Barbarian Bone. Now, the mystery was finally solved. The Dao Seeking Sect disciples nodded respectfully to Vice Sect Master Liu, who was still somewhat confused, recognizing him as a hero. So, Vice Sect Master Liu was also one of our undercover agents, sessfully reaching the position of vice sect master. (End of the chapter) Chapter 175: The Tofu Celestial! Chapter 175: The Tofu Celestial! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The high-ranking members of the Undying Sect werepletely baffled, having just recited the grand ancient words together, when suddenly, a group of people with sacks sprang from the crowd and covered them. Completely bewildered, they were bagged and tied up. They could ept being caught, but why was the Dao Seeking Sect so adept at this technique? Arent you supposed to be the righteous sects? The high-ranking members of the Undying Sect were chanting in an ancientnguage that was meant to work in conjunction with the Yellow Millet Pillow, a celestial treasure. The content of the words was profound, beyond ordinary understanding, and to this day, no one has been able to decipher it. The Undying Sect spected that this was an ancient celestial technique to activate celestial treasures, while others said it was ancient speech to awaken celestial treasures. Either way, it was certain that, when paired with the ancient words, the Yellow Millet Pillow was an unrivaled weapon among peers. The sect master of the Undying Sect deduced that the Evesting Celestial was proficient in dream-rted celestialws. The phrase a grand dreamsts for thousands of autumns; what year is it tonight? was a poetic description of the Evesting Celestial by ancient poets. After research, the sect master also discovered that the Qilin Immortal once expressed a wish to keep the Evesting Celestial in eternal slumber. This shows that although its hard to determine the strongest among the ancient five celestials, the Qilin Immortal must have been afraid of the Evesting Celestial and did not wish for her awakening! the sect master of the Undying Sect dered. Vice Sect Master Liu shook his head, breaking off his train of thought. He realized that the Dao Seeking Sect was well-prepared, and they were trapped, having fallen into a pit. Who is the betrayer?! Vice Sect Master Liu suddenly realized that Lu Yang had disappeared from his side without a trace. He looked up and saw Lu Yang speaking on the stage. Lu Yang seemed to notice Vice Sect Master Lius gaze, exchanged a look with him, and revealed a breezy smile, continuing his speech: After this exchange, everyone must Its you! Vice Sect Master Lius eyes were filled with rage, not expecting Lu Yang to be the traitor. Could it be that Dao Seeking Sect turned Lu Yang against them? No, his presence on the stage indicated that he was originally one of the Dao Seeking Sect, perhaps even a high-ranking member?! Ha, Lu Yang, the great traitor, does he think he has already won! Vice Sect Master Liu revealed a desperate and crazed expression, summoning the celestial treasure Yellow Millet Pillow from his storage ring. Let them see what a celestial treasure is, even if its just you alone, you can still activate this treasure! Vice Sect Master Liu spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Yellow Millet Pillow, which emitted a strange green light. The green light, like ripples, spread to the surroundings. Wherever the green ripples reached, friend or foe, all fell into a deep sleep. Whether Dao Seeking Sect disciples, Five Elements Sect disciples, or even the captured low-ranking members of the corrupt sect, were swept by the green ripples, they swayed and thudded to the ground, snoring soon after. The martial training ground, the heart of the Dao Seeking Sect, supposed to be a ce of hustle and silence, now resounded with snores, eerie and bizarre. Even the sect members below the stands couldnt resist the power of the Yellow Millet Pillow and were pulled into dreams. Vice Sect Master Liu, with a powerful aura, didnt care at all,ughing uncontrobly. Ha ha ha, what of the Dao Seeking Sect, what of the Five Elements Sect, let them dare to underestimate your corrupt sect! Vice Sect Master Liu was filled with murderous intent, intending to use this opportunity to kill the Dao Seeking Sect disciples in one fell swoop. Hurry, if the Dao Seeking Sects Tribtion Crossing Stage detects themotion here, they will surelye. Even if you possess a celestial treasure and offer essence blood as a sacrifice, its difficult to match the might of a minor Tribtion Crossing Stage powerhouse. Vice Sect Master Liu muttered to himself. Tribtion Crossing Stage cultivators are usually hidden in the deepest parts of their sects, either guarding secrets, seeking the path of immortality, or isted from the mortal world, rarely taking action. As far as I know, among the seven minor immortal sects, only the abbot of the Hanging Temple is at the Tribtion Crossing Stage; the rest of the sect leaders are at the Unity Stage. The abbot of the Hanging Temple belongs to the next generation; among our peers, there are still those who have reached the Tribtion Crossing Stage. If a Tribtion Crossing Stage emerges, holding a celestial treasure doesnt make me the weakest! How dare you think of murder in front of me? A mocking voice tinged with indifference interrupted Vice Sect Master Lius daydreams. The voice was unfamiliar. Vice Sect Master Liu abruptly looked up, surprised to find that people hadnt fallen asleep! How is that possible! Slowly, Vice Sect Master Lius surprise turned to horror. Lu Yang not falling asleep meant I was facing a minor power of the Tribtion Crossing Stage! Everything made sense now, exining why Lu Yang, who appeared to be at the Foundation Establishment stage in front of me, could sit in a high position within the Dao Seeking Sect. It must be that Lu Yangs cultivation far surpassed mine! Who exactly are you! Vice Sect Master Liu demanded loudly. To be a Tribtion Crossing Stage, one must be a well-known powerhouse, yet I couldnt match Lu Yang with any known figure. Lu Yang stood below the stage, hands behind his back, his white robe fluttering, like an exiled immortal. With a leap, I ascended. I am the Tofu Celestial! It was deep into the night, and above the moonlight, a figure was exceptionally visible, as if it were the darling of heaven and earth, capturing thousands of gazes. Lu Yang, bathed in moonlight, released an aura far surpassing the Unity Stage, making Vice Sect Master Liu unable to resist bowing in worship. Destiny, the sword falls. The sword light pierced through dark clouds, and the green immortal sword, like divine punishment, carried the wrath of gods and the indifference of immortals, descending from the sky to punish all evil. Faced with this unparalleled sword strike, Vice Sect Master Liu couldnt even muster the strength to resist. It was as if his body was frozen, unable to move. All he could do was not to raise his head, staring wide-eyed as the green immortal sword descended. The immortal sword pierced through Vice Sect Master Lius skull. A sword is a harbinger of good fortune; I did not wish to kill. The Tofu Celestials expression was indifferent as he turned to leave, leaving behind an eternal silhouette. In reality, people gathered around, watching Vice Sect Master Liu lying on the ground asleep, his body asionally twitching, curious about the dream Lu Yang had woven for Vice Sect Master Liu. In fact, Lu Yang had been by Vice Sect Master Lius side the entire time, and the speech below the stage was made by a junior elder. From the moment Vice Sect Master Liu realized people were beside him, he had retreated into a dream. The Yellow Millet Pillow, a treasure of the decayed immortal, Yun Zhi knew how to use the Yellow Millet Pillow beforehand, directly activating it through the storage ring, plunging Vice Sect Master Liu into sleep, then letting people weave the dream. As for the other lower-ranking members, including the vice sect master himself, they were indeed caught in sacks. Its clearly my pillow. Why wont you let me use it! The Evesting Fairy wanted toe out and y but was stopped by Lu Yang. Ill take the risk for you. More than three hundred thousand years have passed; it might have gone bad by now. Lu Yang naturally secured the first turn of dream weaving rights. Speaking of which, does he still need someone to sing when using the Yellow Millet Pillow? Lu Yang remembered the grand atmosphere of the lower-ranking members singing the ancient words, as if offering something to a minuscule existence. What were those people singing? The Evesting Fairy recalled for a moment and said, It was the luby I yed using a plushie while sleeping, the lyrics are sleep, sleep, my dear little baby'' The high ranks of the immortal sect sang with too much vigor,pletely mismatching the essence of the luby. It took her a moment to realize what these people were singing. Lu Yang: (End of the Chapter) Chapter 176: Shangguan Yu Chapter 176: Shangguan Yu Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Ah, so these are the high-ranking members of the Undying Sect youve caught. Suddenly, a voice appeared behind Lu Yang, startling him. He turned around to see the young girl, Shangguan Yu. Why would he abandon a perfectly good barbecue shop to mix with a demonic cult? Shangguan Yu shook her head, reminiscing about the taste of the skewers, feeling pity for these people. Anyway, you guys from the Dao Seeking Sect did well, catching a big fish. Its been many years since youve caught such a high-profile figure. I hope you can extract useful information from him. Shangguan Yu smiled and patted Lu Yang on the shoulder: I see youre naturally a person of the Dao Seeking Sect. Keep working hard; I have high hopes for you. Maybe youll surpass Daoist Non-Speaker one day! Yun Zhi added from the side: Of course he will surpass master. Shangguan Yu scratched her head; she actually meant that Lu Yangs creativity could surpass Daoist Non-Speaker. Did Little Yun misunderstand something? Forget it, too troublesome to exin. Just as Lu Yang was about to say something, he saw Shangguan Yu vanish into thin air, not knowing what method she used. On the stand, the Grand Elder was calming the situation: Everyone, dont panic. It was just a few Unity Stage members of the demonic cult using a celestial treasure tounch a sneak attack on us, nothing serious. The Grand Elder had a this is amon urrence at our Dao Seeking Sect and you Five Elements Sect havent seen this before, huh and these people cant even stir a ripple here expression. Qiu Jinan was certain, this guy was showing off. A Unity Stage demonic cultistunching a sneak attack with a celestial treasure, if it happened in the Five Elements Sect, they would be on high alert. Unlike the Dao Seeking Sect, which still had the mood to y. Your hearts are really big, huh. Undying Sects? Qiu Jinan remembered, Yun Zhi knows some secrets about the Undying Sect. She must have had some clues. Unity Stage, huh, this definitely signifies a vice sect master level figure in the Undying Sect; the Dao Seeking Sect has caught a big fish this time. Qiu Jinan was envious; if they could dig deeper into this big fish, they would surely uncover a lot of valuable things. Why does the Dao Seeking Sect always encounter such good luck! Indeed, the Grand Elder replied elegantly. Qiu Jinan resisted the urge to beat up the Grand Elder and negotiated: The Five Great Immortal Sects share amon enemy. If you find out any information, do let us know. The Grand Elder was nonchnt: Thats easy to say, just as long as you admit that your Five Elements Sect is inferior to the Dao Seeking Sect and be our little brother, we, as your big brother, will definitely share any information with you. Qin Jiu Nian, dont push it too far! Apart from Daoist Non-Speaker, I can take on any of your Dao Seeking Sects Nine! Qiu Jinan mmed the table, his body creaking as he moved. The Grand Elder sneered, snapping his fingers, and everyone from the Second Elder to the Eighth Elder appeared behind him, spreading out like a peacock. Qiu Jinan felt an oppressive aura the Sixth Elder was here. The Grand Elder revealed a smug smile, about to say something when he found he couldnt utter a word. He helplessly transmitted a message to the Sixth Elder: Sixth Sister, when will you be able to control your celestial body? The Sixth Elder rolled her eyes: Be grateful, in history, out of all the owners of the wless Immortal Physique I have controlled it the best. Thest recorded owner of the wless Immortal Physique, Chi Qianqian, after reaching the Unity Stage, automatically repelled the surrounding spiritual energy, forcing her to give up on cultivation. Clearly, immortal physiques have their drawbacks. With the Sixth Elders interference, the Grand Elder lost the mood to mock Qiu Jinan. The Sixth Elder, knowing to give them space, left. The closing ceremony hadnt ended yet, and her presence meant that the Grand Elder and Qiu Jinan couldnt even recite the closing words. In thepetition between the Five Elements Sect and the Dao Seeking Sect, the Five Elements Sect suffered a heavy loss, hardly winning at all. The disciples of the Five Elements Sect werent sheltered flowers; they had plenty of experience in exorcizing demons and performing various tasks in the marketce, rich inbat experience and worldly wisdom. But they truly hadnt seen the likes of the Dao Seeking Sects unconventional strategies, rendering their experience useless. The few battles the Dao Seeking Sect lost were due to their disciples indirectly going berserk. For instance, in one Golden Core stage battle, a Dao Seeking Sect disciple started off fiercely, entirely different from his usual demeanor. Just as the Five Elements Sect disciple was about to be overwhelmed, the Dao Seeking Sect disciple suddenly copsed from exhaustion. With his dying breath, he told the referee, This was a do-or-die battle I took a poison pill before the match it activates after five minutes I nned to take the antidote after getting off the stage If I couldnt defeat my opponent within five minutes I would surely die I Im not going to make it I wished to win just one more battle Seeing the referee about to lose him, he hurriedly took out two identical poison pills, extending his life by ten minutes, then went to find the antidote to save him. After reluctantly reciting the closing words, they bid farewell, showing the deep bond between the Five Great Immortal Sects, far from the rumors of the Dao Seeking Sect isting the other four immortal sects. Ha ha, Sect Master Qiu, do visit our Dao Seeking Sect more often in the future. Definitely, definitely, Ill surelye to expand my horizons at the Dao Seeking Sect again. Both of them cursed in their hearts: Finally, I dont have to see this old geezer again. The Second Elder sincerely told Shangguan Yu: If youre bullied in the Five Elements Sect,e to me. Ive watched Qiu Jinan grow up. He seems upright, but hes actually quite sneaky. Dont let him deceive you! Shangguan Yuughed it off, saying Qiu Jinan wouldnt dare to deceive her. The Second Elder was heartbroken, saying it was exactly because you were too naive that you got deceived by Qiu Jinan. Qiu Jinan stepped between them, his face dark enough to drip water: Old Second, Ba, Ive told you, stay away from her! (TL Note: He used ϶ which is directly tranted as Ba Old Second, Ba being his surname and ϶ meaning old second. Theres no good way to trante it in english.) The Second Elder was indifferent: Dont scare me. Everyone knows Shangguan Yu is said to be your half-sister from the same father. Ive checked; your father only has you as a son, you dont have any sisters. Everyone grew up together, who doesnt know who. You dont have a fiance, and Shangguan Yu has nothing to do with you. What right do you have to stop me! Qiu Jinan exploded in anger: Shes my mom! The Second Elder stiffened, Even if shes your mom what? What did you say? The Second Elder instinctively retorted to Qiu Jinan, realizing midway something was amiss. How did discussing a girlfriend lead to talking about a mom? The Grand Elder and others quietly stepped back, probably due to being beaten too many times as children; they had an innate fear and desire to stay away from the older generation. The reaction from the Five Elements Sect disciples was even stronger; one of the Five Great Mysteries of the Five Elements Sect was finally solved. No wonder its said in the cultivation world not to judge age by appearance; its really true! I remember someone came to propose marriage, and the sect master kicked him out with a dark face. We thought it was because he was overprotective of his sister, but the reason was here. Qiu Jinan then turned to Shangguan Yu, who was enjoying the show, his tone revealing a despairing helplessness: Mom, you too, cant you stop hiding your identity just to look younger? Do you know how many misunderstandings it has caused? Shangguan Yu felt her son was being unfilial: How am I trying to look younger? Am I not only eighteen? Besides, whats wrong with pretending to be your sister? Your dad agreed! My dads grass on his grave is taller than me! Did hee to you in a dream? (End of the chapter) Chapter 177: The Yellow Millet Pillow Chapter 177: The Yellow Millet Pillow Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii My dads grass on his grave is taller than me! Youre not that short, Shangguan Yu muttered. After learning Shangguan Yus identity, Grandpa Bas eyes lit up, pping Qiu Jinan on the shoulder: You can call me Old Ba from now on. Get lost! Qiu Jinan shook off Grandpa Bas hand. The Dao Seeking Sect was indeed not a ce to stay for long; he was about to spend a lifetimes worth of anger here. Little Qiu, I think the Dao Seeking Sect is quite fun. Its rare for us toe here, so how about we stay a few more days? Shangguan Yu suggested. Qiu Jinan took Shangguan Yu and left without looking back, boarding the ship. Shangguan Yu kept talking: Ive always taught you to be calm in the face of issues, to act coolly and remain steady. Look at you, youre so big now, a sect master, and yet you often lose your temper. This isnt good Qiu Jinan wore a dark face, offering no response. Shangguan Yu wiped her tears: The child has grown up and doesnt listen anymore. Qiu Jinan helplessly responded: Mom, can you not act like a child? Whats wrong with being childlike? Your dad liked me just like this. I Qiu Jinan was at a loss, wondering what his father saw in his mother. On the flying ship, Qiu Jinan assigned tasks: This visit to the Dao Seeking Sect, everyone is to write a 2,000-word reflection. It should include insights, reflections, and ns for the future. Hand them to me tomorrow! Instantly, there were groans all around. In front of the Dao Seeking Sect mountain gate, Grandpa Ba waved goodbye to the departing ship, feeling dejected: Do you think I have a chance with Shangguan Yu? The Grand Elder looked Grandpa Ba up and down with disdain: Youre not even as handsome as me, and youre thinking of pursuing her? The Third Elder solemnly said: Second Brother, if you want to increase your generation, I wont stop you, but I doubt Master will agree. Master is suppressing the Prison Peak and probably wouldnt miss you. The elders, true to the tradition of kicking someone when theyre down, all advised Grandpa Ba not to dwell on it. Go, go, go! Grandpa Ba shouted angrily. What kind of brothers are these, unable to say a single nice word? Lets go check on the high-ranking members of the Undying Sect we captured, said the Grand Elder. That was the pressing matter at hand. On the martial training ground, Dao Seeking Sect disciples crowded around the high-ranking members of the Undying Sect, pointing and discussing them like rare animals. This operation didnt all the infiltrators from the Undying Sect; two helmsmen and the patriarch remained atrge, posing as Dao Seeking Sect disciples. Lu Yang, holding the Yellow Millet Pillow, examined it curiously. This was his first time seeing a celestial treasure. The Yellow Millet Pillow was a pillow-shaped porcin pillow, colored green-blue, with a blooming blue lotus painted on it with colored ze. Is this the celestial treasure Yellow Millet Pillow that Little Lu mentioned? the Grand Elder and others came over, also curious about the celestial treasure. Here, let me study it, the Grand Elder took the Yellow Millet Pillow, very interested in items that could forcibly put people to sleep, as he specialized in dream-rted powers. The Grand Elder tried infusing a trace of spiritual power to activate the celestial treasure, but the spiritual power disappeared without a trace, and the Yellow Millet Pillow showed no response. Interesting. The Grand Elder was even more curious about how to activate the Yellow Millet Pillow. Yun Zhi wanted to tell the Grand Elder how to use it, but seeing his high spirits, she ultimately didnt speak. Let the Grand Elder figure it out himself. After trying various methods, the Grand Elder couldnt activate the Yellow Millet Pillow, bing somewhat frustrated. How exactly does this thing work? Seeing the Grand Elders struggle, the captured Vice Grand Master of the prisonersughed and said: Foolish, this is a celestial item of our sect, how could you mere mortals have the qualifications to use it? While the Grand Elder was studying it, the Vice Grand Master mocked him, and the five high-ranking members of the Undying Sect also let out sarcasticughter from time to time. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the Grand Elder grabbed the porcin pillow and struck the Vice Grand Master on the head with it, causing him to peacefully fall asleep. So, this is how the celestial treasure is used. The Grand Elder, deep in thought, finally understood how to use the Yellow Millet Pillow. Unable to hold back any longer, Yun Zhi advised, Grand Elder, use spiritual power as a thread, and form a blue lotus on the back of the pillow, just like the one on the front, to activate the pillow. I see. The Grand Elder used spiritual power as a thread to form a blue lotus on the back of the pillow and sharply tapped another high-ranking member of the Undying Sect on the head, who then peacefully fell asleep. Its quite useful. The Grand Elder returned the pillow to Lu Yang, who also tried it ording to the Eldest Senior Sisters instructions, but without any reaction. Evesting Fairy mocked, You think you can activate my treasure with your Foundation Establishment level cultivation? Lu Yang, having no choice, handed the pillow over to the Eldest Senior Sister for disposal. Yun Zhi formed a seal with one hand, slowly infusing it into the Yellow Millet Pillow. Once the seal disappeared, she handed the porcin pillow to the Grand Elder. Grand Elder, as the most proficient cultivator in dream-rted powers in our sect, this item will be most effective in your hands. Ive left a mark on the pillow, so even if its taken by outsiders, I can retrieve it. The Grand Elder was both surprised and delighted, earnestly thanking Yun Zhi. This was an extremely precious celestial treasure, and possessing it would elevate hisbat capabilities to another level. Already a powerhouse among those at the Unity Stage, with this celestial treasure, he could be an invincible existence within the Unity realm. Even Daoist Non-Speaker would have to be cautious around him! Yun Zhi then passed on an ancient chant for the Grand Elder to memorize, saying that reciting it while using the Yellow Millet Pillow could enhance its power. Curious, the Grand Elder inquired if Yun Zhi knew the meaning of this ancient chant. Yun Zhis expression turned strange, suggesting it was best the Grand Elder didnt know the meaning of the chant. Why is your pillow called the Yellow Millet Pillow? Lu Yang asked Evesting Fairy. Is it because youy on the pillow making millet porridge, and during the process, you dreamt through your life, only to wake up and find the porridge wasnt cooked yet? Lu Yang recalled a certain legend. (TL Note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BC_Dongbin#Yellow_Millet_Dream) Evesting Fairy nodded, Pretty much. That was when the pillow was first created. I invited Ying Tian Immortal and others for a meal, with millet porridge as the main dish. I was preupied and let the porridge boil over, bubbling and almost spilling out of the pot. Thats when I remembered Nonuple Immortal once said, if youre conducting an experiment and the liquid boils over, throwing a few broken porcin pieces in can prevent it from boiling. I didnt have any broken porcin, only the porcin pillow, so I threw the pillow into the millet porridge. When I fished it out, the pillow was covered in millet porridge, hence the name Yellow Millet Pillow. Lu Yang: Does that have anything to do with what I guessed? Did it still boil over after you threw it in? Lu Yang was curious about the follow-up. No, it didnt. Just as Lu Yang was about tomend the method, he heard Evesting Fairy continue, I used too much force and broke the pot. Evesting Fairy, still a bit shocked, Luckily, Ying Tian Immortal and the others stood me up. Otherwise, having no main dish for the meal would have been terribly embarrassing. Indeed, the ability of immortals to foresee and avoid disadvantages is no myth. (End of the chapter) Chapter 178: This Immortal’s name is Yellow Bean Chapter 178: This Immortals name is Yellow Bean Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Head to Qiu Feng to see if we can find out the location of the Undying Sect headquarters. With a flick of Yun Zhis finger, several people from the Undying Sect were uncontrobly suspended in the air, following behind Yun Zhi. Yun Zhi thought for a moment and called Lu Yang over as well: Come over, we might need you. It had not been many days since thest visit to Qiu Feng, and Lu Yang was visiting Qiu Feng again. Qiu Feng remained as it always was, gloomy and oppressive. In the cell, Lu Yang saw the ancient Tribtion Crossing Stage cultivator from the Three Li Cave Heavens C the Blood Demon Sovereign. Now only the soul of the Blood Demon Sovereign remained, no longer the defiance he had shown at their first meeting. Hearing the footsteps of the Eldest Senior Sister, he curled up in the corner of the cell, shivering. The Eldest Senior Sister walked straight past, not even ncing at him. The white-haired child pretended to be elderly, weing the arrival of Yun Zhi and Lu Yang: Little Yun is here again, who have you brought this time? Now, Lu Yang knew that the previous generation sect master, the white-haired child, was named Tang Shengyi. Two Undying Sect deputy leaders and five high-ranking members of the Undying Sect. Wow, youve caught some big fish. Have you taken down the whole Undying Sect? Tang Shengyi was somewhat shocked; his disciple was indeed capable. They walked right into the trap. At this moment, Vice Sect Leader Liu and Vice Sect Leader Gao woke up, and upon hearing Yun Zhis words, they cursed. The despicable Dao Seeking Sect, it was clearly you who tricked us intoing. What a grand scheme, using Tribtion Crossing Stage Tofu Celestial as an undercover agent, infiltrating the Undying Sect, and earning our trust! Clearly, Vice Sect Leader Liu had not fully woken up yet. Vice Sect Leader Gao whispered a reminder: Wake up, what Tofu Celestial? Vice Sect Leader Liu was confused: Isnt it Lu Yang? Yun Zhi silently looked at Lu Yang, also curious about what dream Lu Yang had concocted for Vice Sect Leader Liu. Lu Yang coughed and, feeling embarrassed to share the dream, diverted attention: Lets quickly ask them. What do we need, chili water, tiger bench, or water-soaked whip? Both deputy leaders, having mingled in the demonic cult for hundreds or even thousands of years, were ruthless individuals. Ordinary methods of interrogation wouldnt even make them blink. Heh, young man, do you really think such methods will make us divulge the secrets of our sect? Impossible! The righteous path is foolish and ignorant, yet they try to stop us from reviving the Evesting Celestial. If the great ancient era is to return, without the Evesting Celestial, who will protect us?! Suppressing demons and eliminating evils, you speak so nobly, yet you do not realize that it is precisely your actions that doom the future of the human race! The two deputy leaders mocked the ignorance of the righteous path in turns. No need for such trouble, Yun Zhi stopped Lu Yang. After asking the white-haired child to leave, she said to Lu Yang: Fairy,e out and meet your followers. A fairy, ethereal as if from a dream, appeared behind Lu Yang. Barefoot, with bright eyes and white teeth, her skirt fluttered in the air, her aura elegant, and her demeanor transcendent. Are you two my followers? Evesting Fairy looked coldly at the two deputy leaders, her gaze as still as an ancient well, regarding them as if they were mere insects. Unity Stage figures were of paramount importance in the Central Continent, revered as ancestors in sects, as dignitaries in dynasties, and as mysterious legends in the martial world, but they were nothing in the eyes of immortals. Who are you! The two deputy leaders asked, attempting to use their voices to cover their panic. For some reason, upon seeing this fairy, they felt an urge to worship her. The Evesting Fairyughed indifferently and said: I am the Evesting Fairy. Evesting Fairy? Hearing the self-proimed title of Evesting Fairy, they became apprehensive. This title, how simr it was to Evesting Celestial! Was it a coincidence? Evesting Fairy continued: You have been deceived. There has never been an Evesting Celestial. There is only me, the Evesting Fairy. Some fear the revival of this immortal, wishing to cover up my existence with the ridiculous title of Evesting Celestial. How ignorant, itsughable. People are notcking in foolishness, believing in the rumors spread by those behind the scenes. Fortunately, the Dao Seeking Sect carries the mandate of heaven, with a person of great fortune taking on the cause and effect of reviving this immortal, calling out my true name, reviving me. A chill rose in the hearts of the two deputy leaders, this speech revealed too much information. What does it mean there has never been an Evesting Celestial, what does it mean to fear the Evesting Fairy, and then theres the so-called Dao Seeking Sect carrying the mandate of heaven and a person of great fortune Its terrifying upon careful thought. So, what we actually believed in was not the Evesting Celestial, but you? Vice Sect Leader Liu raised his head, looking at the holy Evesting Fairy with trepidation in his heart. Correct. You have been deceived. I am not a being who delights in bloodshed and killing; such usations are baseless and absurd. Evesting Fairy instructed: To recognize and correct your mistakes is of the greatest virtue. Now, if you disclose the location of the Undying Sect headquarters to this cultivator named Yun Zhi, all mistakes can still be rectified. Vice Sect Leader Gao suddenly asked: Fairy, can you tell us your real celestial name? Evesting Fairy nodded, her tone calm, and revealed her true name: My name is Yellow Bean. The expressions of the two deputy leaders immediately became excited: I knew you were a fraud sent by the Dao Seeking Sect! How could a noble fairy have such a name, obviously made up on the spot! Caught you, didnt I? Still Yellow Bean, does your family make tofu? (TL Note: Yellow Bean in chinese is Huang Doudou which is a very cutesy name which contrasts with her being an immortal hence why they dont believe she is the real deal.) Evesting Fairy emitted a terrifying aura. If there were Tribtion Crossing Stage cultivators here, they could discern this was an aura surpassing the Tribtion Crossing Stage, recognizing Evesting Fairys identity. Unfortunately, the two deputy leaders were at the Unity Stage, blind to the true greatness before them, knowing only that this aura surpassed the Unity Stage, unaware that it was an aura unique to immortals. Yun Zhi softly persuaded Evesting Fairy not to be angry: Senior Fairy, theres no need for anger. Having you make a move was just in hopes of luck. Since they dont recognize you, Ill have to employ some measures myself to make them reveal the location of the Undying Sect. Evesting Fairys expression then improved, returning to Lu Yangs body. Yun Zhi then said to Lu Yang: My methods will be a bit more cruel thanst time, youre still young, better not watch. Hearing Eldest Senior Sisters advice, Lu Yang shivered and obediently left Qiu Feng. On the way back, Lu Yang kindlyforted the sulking Evesting Fairy, praising that her name was actually very nice, very cute. Really? Evesting Fairy was somewhat pleased, it was rare for someone topliment her name. Really, really! Lu Yang nodded repeatedly. Lu Yang looked up at the moon in the sky, thinking of something: Speaking of which, I wonder what time it is now, has it turned to tomorrow yet? Just as Lu Yang was puzzled,ughter came from not far away. Junior Brother Lu asked a good question, how coincidental, its just past midnight, now its already the next day! In other words, the Evesting Fairy is no longer the acting sect master. Senior Brother Ma Tianyang sneered: Junior Brother Lu, have you enjoyed your three days as acting sect master? Ive heard Junior Brother Lu, you have a heavenly stature, capable of challenging beyond your level, Id like to learn from you. Like picking up a small chicken, Senior Brother Ma Tianyang lifted Lu Yang onto the arena. Hearing Lu Yang was here, more and more Senior Sisters and brothers rushed over, making Lu Yangs legs tremble. Fairy, youre responsible! Inside the mental space, Lu Yang red at Evesting Fairy. He had just beenforting Evesting Fairy,forting my foot, it should be herforting me! Evesting Fairy guiltily turned her head away. This, this is also part of the trial. (End of the chapter) Chapter 179: Ancient Divine Art — Turning Beans into Soldiers Chapter 179: Ancient Divine Art Turning Beans into Soldiers Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Immortals, as the pinnacle of the cultivation system, are often associated with the words invincible, peak and unmatched. The inheritance of immortals is considered a treasure by the Central Continent, with countless people seeking the inheritance of immortals, searching for traces of immortals, and obtaining information about them. Obtaining the inheritance of an immortal is fraught with difficulties. One must be strong when faced with strength, fight more bravely as the battle progresses, and being unmatched in ones tier is the most basic requirement. In addition to this, one must also pass the tests of immortals and meet their various unreasonable demands. Lu Yang had a deep understanding of this. On the Martial Arts Square, Lu Yang was fought in turn by his senior brothers and sisters. In his spiritual space, Lu Yang was chasing the Evesting Fairy, holding her ountable. Yellow Bean, stop right there! They are looking for you, why am I the one getting beaten! Ive already told you, this is the test of an immortal. I guarantee, as long as you can survive tonight safely, I will pass on to you a supreme divine art! Learning a supreme divine art from you is not as good as learning from Eldest Senior Sister. Stop right there, today Ill let you know what a mortals test is! This is disrespectful to an immortal! The Evesting Fairy ran away as fast as she could, she couldnt let Lu Yang catch up at any cost. In reality, various masters paid great attention to Lu Yang, a prodigy capable of challenging those above his level, employing a strategy of sessive battles, grinding him down over and over. Lu Yang calmly exined, Senior brothers and sisters, I feel there might be some misunderstandings between us. In fact, I have another powerful soul within me. The actions during the acting sect master period were all done by her upying my body. The senior brothers and sisters sneered, not believing Lu Yangs nonsense. Pretending to have split personalities now? Toote! Although the senior brothers and sisters came for revenge, they didnt all rush up at once. They were cultured people, rushing up all at once was the behavior of barbarians; they were civilized people, who lined up. Below the stage, people conscientiously formed a long queue. Those in front, be quick with your moves. There are so many people waiting behind! As the strongest among the Five Great Immortal Sects, the Dao Seeking Sects strength was beyond doubt. The disciples it recruited were all geniuses and talents. These individuals, having cultivated to the Golden Core stage and beyond, had unique insights intobat styles, spiritual power cirction, and the sequence of technique releases. Battling with these individuals was beneficial for rapidly enhancingbat experience, so that in the future, no matter what style of enemy one faces, one could handle it with ease. This point could be confirmed by disciples of the Five Elements Sect, who greatly improved themselves through exchanges with Dao Seeking Sect disciples. Outside, countless people wished to exchange experiences with Dao Seeking Sect disciples, envious of Lu Yangs experience. Lu Yang did not want to be the object of envy at all. The intensity of the battles caused Meng Jingzhou, watching from below, to p and cheer. However, Lu Yang had to admit that fighting with his senior brothers and sisters helped him greatly, both in terms ofbat experience and his own realm. After being overwhelmingly defeated by his senior brothers and sisters using their unique skills, they would force-feed him precious medicinal pills like the Golden Essence Pill and the Breezy Rejuvenation Pill, as if they were free. These medicinal pills allowed him to rapidly recover from his injuries, consolidate his foundation, and face the next battle in a fuller state. Through repeated battles and consuming medicinal pills, Lu Yangs realm steadily improved, which was worth celebrating. He felt that he was only a thought away from breaking through to the middle stage of Foundation Building. Moreover during the confrontations with his senior brothers and sisters, he was able to to look for ws and solutions, for his Three vours True Fire, Shrinking Earth into Inches technique, and The Art of Tree Painting, making his use of techniques more proficient. Perhaps this is the so-called great opportunity between life and death, Lu Yangs potential was further brutally squeezed out. For example, Lu Yang could exhale Three vours True Fire, burning only the insides of his opponents without harming the surface, further enhancing his control over fire. He could freely adjust the spiciness, with levels including mildly spicy, medium spicy, extra spicy, and explosive spicy. He could also freely adjust the saltiness, with options for light, normal salty, more salty, and extra salty, though it was still far from the saltiness level of the Evesting Fairy. For example, Lu Yang found in battle that he couldbine the techniques of Shrinking Earth into Inches, and The Art of Tree nting. By first shrinking the ground, then turning into inches, and finally using The Art of Tree nting, he could grow three small Lu Yangs on the tree. However, Lu Yangs current spiritual power was weak, and he couldnt control three of himself at the same time. Eh, a ginseng fruit? The one battling Lu Yang was Senior Sister Yi Jing, who was surprised to see the bald little Lu Yang swaying on the bodhi tree, finding it quite cute. Could this be the origin of the legendary ginseng fruit? A senior brother murmured. Ginseng fruit had always been a legend, never truly seen before. One senior brother felt theparison was too far-fetched: If a technique could be mastered to the extent of Junior Brother Lu, it would be unique throughout the ages. Even if ginseng fruit is rare, its not as rare as Junior Brother Lu. Another senior brother said, I also dont think ginseng fruites about like this. I read in a wild history book that talked about the origin of ginseng fruit. It said that in ancient times, ginseng was rare, and there was a swindler who imed to have ginseng. When people asked where the ginseng was found, he said it grew on trees, thus giving rise to the name ginseng fruit. Your wild history is really wild. Does the book say who the swindler was? It says his name was Ying Tian Immortal. Inside the spiritual space, the Evesting Fairy ran too fast, outpacing Lu Yang by a wholep, but eventually, Lu Yang caught her wrist. Finally caught you! Lu Yang smiled warmly, his smile like that of a cultured rogue. In reality, Lu Yang shouted Hold on, stopping a Spirit Transformation Stage senior brother who was about to make his move. The Spirit Transformation Stage senior brother didnt strike, wanting to see what Lu Yang intended to do. Among the opponents challenging the Evesting Fairy, including this Spirit Transformation Stage Senior Brother Wu, he was here for revenge, having queued for a long time, and it was finally his turn. Lu Yang took a deep breath and said slowly, Senior Brother Wu, I advise you not to push people too hard. If really pressed, I can do anything at any time! Senior Brother Wu wasnt scared by Lu Yangs threat, asking with a smile, And how would you bully you? Do you perhaps have a fourth acting sect master experience coupon? Senior Brother Wu didnt believe Lu Yang had another one. If he did, he would have used it long ago, not waiting until now. I dont have an acting sect master experience coupon, but I have an ancient divine art that can kill all enemies. As fellow Dao Seeking Sect disciples, I do not wish to start a massacre within our sect! Senior Brother Wu didnt believe Lu Yang possessed such a divine art and didnt waste any more words,ing straight for him. Seeing that persuasion was ineffective, Lu Yang had no choice but to use the technique he had just learned. Behold my ancient divine artTurning Beans into Soldiers! Inside the spiritual space, Lu Yang forcibly handed over control of his body to Yellow Bean. Turning Beans into Soldiers meant letting the Evesting Fairy take his ce in battle! This technique was incredible; possessed by an immortal, utterly invincible. Such a move, even in ancient times, was considered a tremendous and forbidden technique! The Evesting Fairy, facing Senior Brother Wus attack, felt despair. With a Spirit Transformation Stage making a move, how could she possibly fight? Lu Yang, you have no reverence for immortals! Lu Yang sneered, reverence? Thats something Ill consider after I survive tonight! (End of the chapter) Chapter 180: Junior Brother Lu, Do You Have Any Unfulfilled Wishes? Chapter 180: Junior Brother Lu, Do You Have Any Unfulfilled Wishes? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii As an immortal, the Evesting Fairy managed to survive the cruel and barbaric ancient times to achieve immortality and rank among the five immortals. Apart from her great luck, her many secret abilities also yed a crucial part. The Evesting Fairys eyes showed a cold glint. The opponents cultivation was too high, ordinary methods would definitely not work. Therefore, she had no choice but to use her forbidden technique that maniptes time the ying Dead Technique! With a thud, the Evesting Fairys vitality vanished, and she fell to the ground, motionless, without a heartbeat or pulse, and her soul could not be felt. This gave Senior Brother Wu quite a scare. He hadnt made his move yet, so how did the person die? Should we bury him? someone suggested from below. He deserves a proper burial. Senior Brother Wu nodded in agreement. During the days when Lu Yang served as the sect master, everyone witnessed his contributions. The Evesting Fairy got a shock and quickly got up. Senior Brother Wu, as if facing a great enemy, was very nervous and pulled out a yellow talisman, sticking it on Lu Yangs forehead. Unexpectedly, Junior Brother Lu has turned into a zombie. Do you have any unfulfilled wishes? Senior Brother Wu silently chanted the rebirth mantra: Dust to dust, earth to earth, everything is in the past. Junior Brother Lu, speak your wish, and your brother will fulfill it for you. The Evesting Fairy spoke faintly: My wish is to defeat Yun Zhi. Senior Brother Wus expression changed slightly and also ced a yellow talisman on Lu Yangs mouth: Junior Brother Lu, do you have any other unfulfilled wishes? The Evesting Fairy couldnt speak. Senior Brother Wu breathed a sigh of relief: It seems there are none. The crowd wailed in sorrow, lifting Lu Yangs still warm body and burying it in the small forest of Heavens Gate Peak, leaving only the head exposed. Then they left Heavens Gate Peak and hurried to the mission hall, wanting toplete missions, umte contribution points, exchange them for an acting sect master experience coupon, and enjoy the thrill of being an acting sect master. In the three days the Evesting Fairy served as the acting sect master, she was quite active, sparking peoples addiction to being an acting sect master. Being the sect master seems fun. I have some ideas that can only be realized by being the sect master. Everyone put their full effort into heading to the mission hall to take on missions, startling Dai Bufan. He had never seen everyone so enthusiastic before, like they were rushing to buy discounted goods. In the end, the mission wall waspletely empty; all missions were taken, making Dai Bufan twitch. After understanding the reason, Dai Bufan was relieved. If it was for this reason, he wasnt worried that the junior brothers and sisters were just momentarily excited. Exchanging for an acting sect master experience coupon bypleting one or two missions wouldnt work. Unless someone, like the Evesting Fairy, managed to kill a Unity Stage demon cultivator. Thats good, the number of missions has been increasingtely, which can satisfy their needs. Starting yesterday, the number ofmoners from The Great Xia Dynasty seeking help from the Dao Seeking Sect increased. Dai Bufan noticed the change and paid attention. He found that those seeking help from the Dao Seeking Sect all came from the same ce. After inquiring further, he found out that these people listened to wandering storytellers narrating The Legends of Dao Seeking Sect, learning about such a ce that punishes evil and promotes good. Dai Bufan pondered, understanding the root cause: It seems that Eldest Senior Sisters effort to have the sect master narrate stories everywhere and promote the Dao Seeking Sect is starting to show results. However, Dai Bufan also heard some strange things, such asmoners seeking help from the Dao Seeking Sect wanting to meet Daoist Non-Speaker, the one from The Legends of Dao Seeking Sect who turned the tide, changed the declining state of the Dao Seeking Sect, and made the Dao Seeking Sect leap to the forefront of the Five Great Immortal Sects. Aside from the name, Dai Bufan couldnt find any connection between the sect master and the legendary Daoist Non-Speaker. Among the Five Great Immortal Sects, its hard to distinguish their strengths since its uncertain who might be hiding some old monsters. Discussing their power based on overtbat strength is meaningless. The Dao Seeking Sect had experienced decline, but that was several generations ago and had nothing to do with thest or the current generation. By the time Daoist Non-Speaker took over the Dao Seeking Sect, it had already shaken off its period of decline. However, the emergence of Yun Zhi changed the indistinguishable strength bnce among the Five Great Immortal Sects. None of the old monsters hidden by any sect could match Yun Zhi inbat. Even the old ancestors hidden in the forbidden grounds of The Great Xia imperial pce knew that they were no match for Yun Zhi in a one-on-one fight, let alone the old monsters from the Five Great Immortal Sects. These old monsters were prominent figures in their active years, controlling the direction of the era and stirring up storms. Now retired, their reputations are not as prominent. These people couldnt beat a young girl; admitting this might feel embarrassing, so they didnt detail Yun Zhis strength, only hinting to the current leaders to be cautious. Although people of this era do not know Yun Zhis exact strength, they remember the old monsters teachings not to provoke Yun Zhi. Among them, the Emperor of Xia did the best job. Speaking of which, how many contribution points should be given for Junior Brother Lus trick of luring the high ranks of the demonic cult into a trap all at once? Although the most critical step waspleted by Eldest Senior Sister, the contributions of Lu Yang and the others are also significant. Dai Bufan was somewhat troubled. Forget it, I wont think about it anymore. Let Eldest Senior Sister decide. Dai Bufan put the matter out of his mind. In the small forest of Heavens Gate Peak, Lu Yangs head emerged, turning around, as control of his body returned to him. Shrinking Earth. With a whoosh, Lu Yang emerged from the ground. The senior brothers and sisters hadnt been ruthless. Knowing Lu Yang could use earth escape techniques, they intentionally gave him a chance. Otherwise, if they used a move like Turning Earth into Steel, Lu Yang would have been in real trouble. Congrattions, you have sessfully passed this immortals test. The Evesting Fairy pped her hands. She analyzed seriously, Youve gained a lot this time, not only in terms ofbat experience but also in visible growth in various techniques. Even your cultivation is close to thete stage of Foundation Building. I guarantee youre the strongest in your age group! Lu Yang remained silent, staring at her like a ghost. Cough cough, dont look at this immortal that way. The Evesting Fairy coughed twice. This immortal said, as long as you passed this test, I would give you part of my inheritance. You should be thrilled. In ancient times, if you werent this immortals disciple, how could you learn this immortals techniques? Lu Yang looked at the Evesting Fairy skeptically, You had disciples in the ancient times? No. Its lucky you didnt. Otherwise how many peoples time would you have wasted? The Evesting Fairy didnt know what Lu Yang was thinking and continued, The technique Im teaching you this time is significant. Its a technique that the Immemorial Immortal begged this immortal to learn after attaining immortality, involving time and the future. Although this immortal is not as talented in time-rted techniques as the Immemorial Immortal, only learning the basics, its more than enough to teach you! What technique? Foreseeing the future! Lu Yang gasped, surprised he had the opportunity to learn this famous technique. It couldnt just be called a technique; calling it an immortal art wouldnt be an exaggeration. Has the fairy finally yed the role of a golden finger? This beating wasnt in vain after all. (End of the chapter) Chapter 181: People Who Dont Belong Together, Will Not Live Together Chapter 181: People Who Dont Belong Together, Will Not Live Together Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii (TL Note: The chapter title is an idiom that means people who can live together often have simr temperaments and styles and have many simr interests, otherwise it will be difficult to get together. Its kind of the Chinese version of Birds of a different feather dont flock together.) Regarding the Immemorial Immortal, Lu Yang only knew of his revered title, with everything else about him shrouded in mystery. However, Lu Yang could still infer some information. Just as the Evesting Fairy uses Evesting as a prefix, indicating immortality as her trait, it could be deduced that the Immemorial Immortals trait is rted to the distant past or time. The technique taught to the Evesting Fairy by the Immemorial Immortal, and then passed on to himself, is akin to receiving favors from two immortals, enough to prove the power of this technique! Moreover, time-rted techniques are among the rarest of all techniques, even rarer than those rted to space, causality, and other concepts. Why did the Immemorial Immortal teach you this technique? Lu Yang wondered if perhaps the fairy had poisoned the Immemorial Immortal into a delirious state and tricked it out of him? The more Lu Yang thought about it, the more usible it seemed. The Evesting Fairy feigned anger: What are you saying? With my personal charm, isnt it normal for the Immemorial Immortal to beg me to learn the technique? So, he was poisoned into stupidity. What really happened? One time, Iined to the Immemorial Immortal that I had gone to the trouble of preparing a lot of nutritious food and invited you all over, but you didnte, wasting the food. I asked if he could teach me a technique that would let me know in advance whether you woulde or not, so I could prepare ordingly. The Immemorial Immortal seemed reluctant, I guessed he thought that if I learned this technique, hed be out of a job, which is understandable. Seeing him in a dilemma, I didnt press him to teach me. And then? You know Im a gentle, considerate, generous, and appropriate fairy, said the Evesting Fairy, using adjectives that hardly seemed relevant to her. At the time, I considerately said, Youre managing so manys, its understandable if youre too busy toe over for meals.'' So, I reluctantly offered door-to-door service, preparing meals and delivering them to your tables. That way, the food I made wouldnt go to waste, and youd save time. The Immemorial Immortal probably felt my time was too valuable to be spent on these trivial matters, and immediately offered to teach me foreseeing the future, so I could predict who woulde and who wouldnt. I said the technique sounded difficult, and Id rather not learn it, preferring to continue delivering food. The Immemorial Immortal enthusiastically said the technique was very simple and easy to learn. Seeing the Immemorial Immortals enthusiasm, I reluctantly learned it. Did you learn it? The Evesting Fairy nodded with a proud expression: Who do you think I am? I am the Evesting Fairy! Theres no reason for me not to learn it! I can predict events three days in advance, without any errors! Lu Yang was sincerely impressed; being able to know events three days in advance was truly worthy of one of the ancient five immortals. Let me demonstrate for you! As she spoke, the Evesting Fairys soul floated out of her body, and a wind from nowhere blew her pale green skirt, as if she had stepped out of a painting. The Evesting Fairy raised her right hand, chanting ancient and difficult-to-understand words. Apanied by the chant, countless golden runes appeared, floating around and hiding in the void. As the chant reached its climax, the golden runes returned, converging into the Evesting Fairys eyes. Her eyes shone bright gold, radiant and lively. I see What did the fairy see? I see that from tonight to tomorrow during the day, there will be moderate rain turning clear, with temperatures from fifteen to neen degrees, and a southeast wind Lu Yang: ??? The Evesting Fairy continued, I can also see that the day after tomorrow will be clear, turning to partly cloudy, with temperatures from seventeen to twenty-four degrees As the Evesting Fairy went on to give a weather forecast for the day after tomorrow, Lu Yang quickly interrupted. Wait, fairy, is this what you learned about foreseeing the future? Did the Immemorial Immortal dare to let you graduate with such skills without fearing tarnishing his reputation? The Evesting Fairy solemnly said to Lu Yang, Your perspective is too narrow. Do you think foreseeing the future only involves predicting what you or I will do? I once shared your doubts, and the Immemorial Immortal solemnly told me, how is predicting the weather not a part of foreseeing the future? Rather, predicting the weather is even more challenging than predicting human actions. What does weather represent? It represents the changes in heaven and earth. Heaven and earthe before humans. Predicting the changes of heaven and earth is definitely much more difficult than predicting human behavior. My ability to predict the weather precisely demonstrates that I have mastered this technique to a great extent! Even if others wished to achieve what I have, they couldnt! The Evesting Fairy repeated to Lu Yang what the Immemorial Immortal had said to her, feeling pleased with herself for lecturing a studentah, no, for feeling like a teacher. Lu Yang suspected that the Evesting Fairy was deceived by the Immemorial Immortal, but he couldnt defeat the Immemorial Immortal, so he dared not question it. Can you predict anything else? Only the weather. Lu Yang was certain that the Evesting Fairy was deceived by the Immemorial Immortal, but he couldnt defeat the Immemorial Immortal. The ancient era was so cruel. Even immortalscked basic humanity, deceiving even fools, which is despicable! Is your weather forecast reliable? The Dao Seeking Sect experiences spring all year round, with rare rainfall. Lu Yang looked at the Evesting Fairy skeptically, doubting the sess rate of the technique. My weather forecasts have never been wrong! So, youre teaching me to forecast the weather? Lu Yangs eyes twitched, retracting his initial thoughts. This golden finger indeed wasnt very useful. What Ive learned is the highest realm of foreseeing the future, predicting the weather. Your talent for techniques is good, but it still falls shortpared to mine. Besides, youre only at the Foundation Building stage. How could you learn to the extent I have? Lu Yang didnt quite understand where the Evesting Fairys pride wasing from. So, youre actually teaching me the normal way of foreseeing the future, but you yourself ended up with weather forecasting? Right. Lu Yang felt this was probably what People who dont belong together, will not live together meant. As his Nascent Soul, it was normal for the Evesting Fairy to share some simrities with him. Will you learn? Yes! Since youre going to learn, you must start from the very basics of the ancientnguage. The gap between the ancientnguage and the currentnguage is vast. You wont learn it immediately. To see quick results, you just need to learn the ancient words used when casting the foresight technique. The Evesting Fairy paused and then repeated the ancient words she had just said. What does that mean? Lu Yang was curious. The Evesting Fairy tranted, What I just said was, Spirit of heaven and earth, Immemorial Immortal you wretched turtle grandson, show your spirit!'' Lu Yang instinctively stepped back two paces, fearing that Immemorial Immortal would descend and pinch him to death with one finger. Lu Yang felt that learning techniques from the Evesting Fairy didnt even ensure basic survival. Eldest Senior Sister was more reliable. Repeat after me. Hmm, just to be safe, I have to ask, is it necessary to say wretched turtle grandson? Thats not necessary. Its just a modal particle; it can be included or omitted. (TL Note: In linguistics, modal particles are always uninflected words, and are a type of grammatical particle. They are used to indicate how the speaker thinks that the content of the sentence rtes to the participantsmon knowledge or to add emotion to the meaning of the sentence.) (End of the chapter) Chapter 182: Foreseeing the Future Chapter 182: Foreseeing the Future Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang felt that the reason Evesting Fairy could not learn to foresee the future had a lot to do with Immemorial Immortal not teaching her seriously. Lu Yang followed Evesting Fairy to study thenguage of the ancients, with difficult vocabry popping out one after another. After reciting it a few times, Lu Yang was able to speak the phrase fluently. Speaking of which, to resurrect you, fairy, is whether we are using thenguage of the ancients to chant your name or using the currentnguage relevant, since both are able to resurrect you? Lu Yang remembered the time he resurrected Evesting Fairy using the modernnguage. Hehe, as I said, my ariya-ph is evesting. Evesting endures eternity; why would it be confined bynguages? But Ying Tian Immortal and the others dont know about this, Evesting Fairyughed somewhat slyly, willing to share this little secret with Lu Yang. You mustnt tell anyone else about this; Im only telling you because you resurrected me and allowed me to reside in your body for so long! Evesting Fairy cautioned. Of course! Lu Yang promised, thumping his chest. Lu Yang began to study foresight earnestly. He sat cross-legged, deeply contemting this grand and divine power renowned even in ancient legends. Lu Yang seldom let Evesting Fairy instruct him, fearing she might lead him astray, but when he really couldnt figure something out, he still had to ask. Evesting Fairy watched as Lu Yang gradually touched the Essence of foresight, secretly rmed, indicating that Lu Yang was not far from mastering it. She verbally downyed Lu Yangs technique talents as inferior to her own, merely because she was embarrassed to admit that Lu Yangs talents surpassed hers. She could not learn the technique of time during her foundation-building phase. A mid-foundation stage practitioner, having mastered the spatial technique Miles in a Step, was about to learn the temporal technique of foresight. Describing Lu Yang as monstrously talented would not be an exaggeration. Evesting Fairy soon put this aside, since her strength was not in techniques; why then should shepare her weaknesses with Lu Yangs strengths? Lu Yang chanted the solemn ancient words, his middle finger and index finger together, and shouted, Foresight! Did it work? Evesting Fairy was surprised; he learned so quickly. Golden runes appeared around Lu Yang, dissipating into the void, and after about three minutes, the golden runes left the void and returned to Lu Yangs body. Lu Yangs eyes shone like gold; he had sessfully seen the future! I saw myself from two minutes ago?! Lu Yang saw himself from two minutes earlier, dumbfoundedly holding up his arm, waiting for feedback from the golden runes, looking somewhat foolish. The corner of his eye twitched; theoretically, he had learned to foresee the future, sessfully predicting what would happen one minute after casting the technique. But in reality, he knew the result would take three minutes to arrive. Whats the use of that?! Lu Yangined. Lu Yang felt that it was probably because he hadnt yet mastered it proficiently. Practice more. Lu Yang reflected on his actions, identified potential issues, patched the gaps, and cast the technique again. He waited three minutes after casting the technique and saw what would happen one and a half minutester (after casting). Theres some progress. Lu Yangforted himself, perking up. Keep it up! Evesting Fairy encouraged from the side. Once more! After the Five Elements Sect left, senior brothers and sisters took turns fighting with Lu Yang, continuously battling him until the early morning, then burying him in the small forest at Heavens Gate Peak. Lu Yang passed the fairys test and began to practice diligently from dawn. As time progressed, from morning to evening, the sun turned to the moon, and moonlight poured onto Dao Seeking Sect like a tide, casting a mysterious veil. Heaven rewards the diligent. After repeated practice, research, studying, and solving problems, the foreseeable future extended closer and closer to the crucial three-minute mark. Suddenly, Lu Yang felt a boom in his mind, as if breaking through a barrier, and he crossed the three-minute threshold to predict the future. Lu Yangs eyes gleamed golden, standing out like two candlelights in the night. What did you see? Evesting Fairy excitedly asked. Lu Yangs expression was strange: I only saw a snippet. Eldest Senior Sister was leaving the prison peak, I ran up to her and said I must learn from master, to be as carefree as him, spending days in frivolity, neither cultivating nor doing serious work. Eldest Senior Sister smiled faintly, hugged me, patted my back, and said she would take care of me in the future. Really? Evesting Fairy was shocked. What kind of strange future was that? It feels real! Lu Yang was also puzzled. I feel somethings not quite right, Evesting Fairy said, eyes darting about, tempting, Immemorial Immortal once said, the future cannot be changed, and since youve seen it, it must happen. The only way to verify the truth is to test it! Convinced by Evesting Fairys logic, Lu Yang set off for the prison peak. At that moment, Yun Zhi had juste out from the prison peak, her fists still stained with blood. Though her expression was still impassive, those familiar with her knew she was in a good mood. Yun Zhi had sessfully extracted a wealth of information about the Undying Sect from two vice-sect leaders, including the location of the Undying Sect headquarters. Seeing Lu Yang running over excitedly, Yun Zhi asked, Little junior brother, whats the matter? Lu Yang shed a radiant smile, saying, I must learn from master, to adopt his irresponsible ways, spending my days in leisure without cultivating or doing any serious work. BoomCrack For some reason, the originally clear sky became overcast with thunder and lightning, andrge drops of rain began to fall. Eh, its raining, I told you it would rain tonight! Evesting Fairy boasted, her weather prediction was still very urate. Lu Yang noticed, after he spoke those words, Eldest Senior Sisters expressionless face turned into a faint smile. Though it was a smile,bined with the thunder and lightning in the sky, and Lu Yangs intuition, this smile exerted tremendous pressure on him. A life or death crisis! Lu Yang swallowed hard, hurried back to his spiritual space, and stealthily asked, Fairy, can high cultivation levels allow emotional changes to affect the weather? Yes. Lu Yang finally understood why the usually rainless Dao Seeking Sect was experiencing rain today. He had angered Eldest Senior Sister! Your weather prediction is really urate, fairy! Lu Yang said through gritted teeth. In reality, Yun Zhi gently patted Lu Yangs shoulder, speaking in a soft tone, Little junior brother, have you been so tense in your cultivation that youve started talking nonsense? Lu Yang shivered, instinctively shaking his head, then realizing the reaction was wrong, quickly nodded like a pecking chicken, unable to utter a word. He finally understood what the technique he had cultivated was. Foreseeing the futureknowing beforehand things that would note to pass. (End of the chapter) Chapter 183: The Strongest Specter Chapter 183: The Strongest Specter Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang honestly exined the reasons and consequences of the incident and had Evesting Fairye out as a witness to convince Yun Zhi that Lu Yang was merely conducting an experiment. The thunder dissipated, and the moderate rain abruptly ceased; moonlight pierced through the dark clouds, and Dao Seeking Sect was clear once again. The disciples of Dao Seeking Sect were unclear about what had happened; the rain had notsted long before it stopped. At Dao Seeking Sect, rain usually meant that the elders were casting spells, mixing spiritual power with the rainwater as it fell, irrigating Dao Seeking Sect and increasing the concentration of spiritual energy in the sect. I told you so, tonight to tomorrow daytime, from cloudy to clear, look how urate I am, Evesting Fairy boasted about her ability to predict the weather. Lu Yang did not want to talk. Lu Yang noticed several familiar figures following behind Eldest Senior Sister, unmistakably the vice-head Liu and other seven high-ranking officials of the Undying Sect. The seven of them looked utterly lost, their eyes filled with a subtle terror when they looked at Eldest Senior Sister. Eh, they are all in soul form, Evesting Fairy remarked, somewhat surprised. Eldest Senior Sister, what are you doing? Lu Yang was very puzzled. Yun Zhi exined lightly, I see that they have a knack for skewers, quite popr among junior brothers and sisters. Instead of confining them at the prison peak, why not let them return to the barbecue restaurant to utilize their special skills? I have refined them into specters. Naturally, the money earned by vice-head Liu and others had to be handed over to Eldest Senior Sister without any discrepancy. The prison peak was suppressing a decent amount of ancient Unity Stage souls, temporarily notcking raw materials for crafting Spiritual Treasures. Lu Yang was dumbfounded, this setup felt eerily familiar. And specters of the Unity Stage, wasnt this already the limit of what specters could achieve? Refining them into specters also meant there was no fear of the seven rebelling or causing trouble within the Dao Seeking Sect. If they harbored intentions of harming others, they would die on the spot. Eldest Senior Sister led vice-head Liu and the others back to the Come Again barbecue restaurant, letting them peacefully run the ce. Vice-head Liu and the others quickly nodded, dering they would definitely promote the spirit of barbecuing, never skimping on work or maliciously overcharging, guaranteeing to serve every customer with the most professional and considerate attitude. Only then did Eldest Senior Sister leave satisfied, asking Lu Yang to follow her back to Heavens Gate Peak. The Come Again barbecue restaurant opened sessfully, and many merchants came forward to congratte on the new opening. Initially, vice-head Liu and the others were quite disdainful. Even though they were now in soul form and had be specters, they were still Unity Stage powerhouses, figures whomanded respect in the outside world, and they were reluctant to interact with these merchants, feeling it lowered their status. However, they quickly dismissed that notion. They scanned the area with their spiritual sense and broke into a cold sweat. Even a casual scan revealed several cultivators whose levels they could not discern. For instance, the beautiful owner of Hundred Fragrances House, and the teahouse owner, etc. This indicated that the other partys cultivation was also at the Unity Stage! It was one thing for cultivators of great power to hide among the popce, but to do the same within the Dao Seeking Sect? Vice-head Liu also discovered many Void Refinement Stage cultivators. The cultivation fluctuations of those at the Void Refinement Stage were extremely high; at their peak, they could even disy Unity Stagebat power. Without them taking action, it was impossible to determine whether their current strength was high or low, making them very intimidating. The depth of Dao Seeking Sect is frightening indeed they secretlymunicated amongst themselves. If that was the case, how many Unity Stage cultivators did Dao Seeking Sect possess? Just afraid that its not only Dao Seeking Sect like this, the Five Great Immortal Sects are closely matched; the other four major immortal gates are probably only stronger, not weaker than Dao Seeking Sect. Even whenmunicating through spiritual sense, Vice-head Gao lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. This is just a corner of Dao Seeking Sect. They finally realized how vast the gap was between the four great demonic sects and the Five Great Immortal Sects; it was not even close. No wonder they would hide or flee upon encountering someone from the Five Great Immortal Sects. If they did not hide or flee, they would end up like they are now, either turned into specters or refined into top-level Spiritual Treasures. Vice-head Liu and others felt a strange sense of dj vu. Why does this method seem so familiar to us? Returning to Heavens Gate Peak, Yun Zhi left her body in the cave dwelling, and her spirit ventured out. Eldest Senior Sister you Before Lu Yang could finish, he saw Eldest Senior Sisters spirit fly directly into his own spiritual space, startling both Evesting Fairy and Lu Yang. You, you, you scared me! Originally, Evesting Fairy waszily sitting in a soft chair, legs crossed, looking drowsy and thoroughly enjoying herself. Eldest Senior Sisters sudden appearance startled her into standing up with a jump. Eldest Senior Sister ignored Evesting Fairys reaction and spoke to Lu Yang, I now know the location of the Undying Sect headquarters, but if I rashly go there, it might end up likest time, with them fleeing before I arrive. This time I will hide in your spiritual space. You do as I say, and you can enter the Undying Sect headquarters to ensure we capture everyone without missing anyone. Lu Yang felt he might as well y cards in the spiritual space. He understood Eldest Senior Sisters concern; this was indeed a good n. How should I do it? First, find Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone. Undying Sect headquarters, in the leaders secret chamber. Two rows of bookshelves stood on either side, filled with various precious pills, secret methods, and techniques. Most pill bottles were empty; the pills had been consumed by the Undying Sect leader for healing. At the end of the bookshelves stood a life-sized statue of Evesting Celestial, indistinguishable as male or female. In the darkness, the Undying Sect leader slowly opened his eyes,ing out of seclusion. He moved his limbs, feeling the still murky spiritual power circting within, and couldnt help but smile bitterly. During the test of entry, the sudden appearance of Dao Seeking Sects Yun Zhi dealt him a blow that he had yet to recover from. Looks like I might really need a hundred years of quiet cultivation? The Undying Sect leader was worried about the future. If it took a hundred years to fully recover his strength, who would lead the Undying Sect in the meantime? Among the three vice leaders of the Undying Sect, vice leaders Liu and Gao coveted his position, only vice leader Jin, who had organized the entry test, had so far shown no desire for his role. The leaders gaze moved to the statue of Evesting Celestial, his eyes filled with hope, as he faintly felt Evesting Celestial stirring. He lit three incense sticks, cing them in the censer, knelt down on his knees, hands pressed together, and bowed three times to the celestial statue. Great Evesting Celestial, please save your devout followers, save this world! Who is calling upon this celestial? A kind yet aged voice echoed in the secret chamber. The leader looked up, his eyes filled with fanaticism and joy, his body trembling slightly, fingers quivering uncontrobly from the excitement. The statue before him emitted a strange red light from its eyes, and the rising incense smoke enveloped the statue, forming a cloud. The smoke morphed, gradually changing into a kindly-looking old man. (End of the chapter) Chapter 184: Everlasting Celestial Chapter 184: Evesting Celestial Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The leader had not expected Evesting Celestial to actually appear. He had indeed sensed that Evesting Celestial was awakening, but he had not expected the immortal to manifest so soon; it was an unexpected joy. The leader excitedly introduced himself, Congrattions on awakening from the river of history. My name is Xie Bingzhi, and I am the leader of the Undying Sect. The current era is 300,000 years from the era you know. Oh, you may not be aware of the Undying Sect; we are one of the four great demonic sects, aimed at awakening you Evesting Celestial quietly listened to the leaders endless introduction, and after he finished, chuckled twice, slowly saying, Child, do not be agitated. I am already aware of what you have just said. The leader calmed down, realising he had overstepped and lostposure, The celestial knows all. Evesting Celestial shook his head, Not so exaggerated. Who dares to im they know everything? Even Ying Tian, Qilin, and others cannot im omniscience, not to mention that this celestial has been departed from the world for 300,000 years. The sea changes into mulberry fields, stars shift, the world evolves. Who could have predicted todays events back then? In Evesting Celestials hand, a drop of golden liquid appeared out of thin air. With a flick of his finger, itnded in the leaders hand. The leader could feel the terrifying life force contained within. You were wounded by a formidable enemy and would not heal without a century. This drop of liquid can help speed up your recovery. This, is this the legendary evesting ariya-ph? The leaders hands trembled, feeling the celestials mighty power for the first time. Evesting Celestial smiled kindly, The evesting ariya-ph does not easily appear in the world; this is merely a drop of dew from the evesting ariya-ph. The leader immediately consumed it. As soon as the golden liquid entered his mouth, it transformed into a strange energy, filling his limbs and all parts of his body. The leader could clearly feel the speed of his recovery elerating. He had heard that the ariya-ph is the foundation of every celestial, never lightly shown to others. Evesting Celestial, truly a savior of the human race, was selfless, allowing him the fortune to glimpse a trace of the power of an ariya-ph. This celestial knows why you have awakened me; the struggle of the geniuses, bing a celestial is an eternal topic Evesting Celestial stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes slightly closed, somewhat cloudy as if recalling ancient memories, eventually he sighed deeply, shook his head, and did notment further on the past. He murmured, Does the human race need this celestial to save them again? The leader quickly said, Celestial, the great ancient era ising again, and cultivators are awakening everywhere. If war breaks out, only you can save the human race! Perhaps saving the human race is indeed this celestials mission; why not save them once more? Just as the leader was about to speak, Evesting Celestial raised his hand to interrupt him, However, I am now only a soul; my ariya-ph is not yet perfect, and I can only temporarily reside within this statue. I cannot protect you as I did at the end of the ancient times. If I am to recover to my peak state, I still need a body to inhabit. Can I offer mine? the leader volunteered eagerly. Evesting Celestial shook his head, Your body has already been formed, and you have taken many wrong paths in your cultivation, difficult to reverse, making the chances of condensing ariya-ph very slim. I heard that Yun Zhi of the Dao Seeking Sect is called the strongest among the Five Great Immortal Sects; can her body be used? the leader suggested again. Evesting Celestial shook his head, Ah, the strongest of the Five Great Immortal Sects? ording to what this immortal knows, the Five Great Immortal Sects are merely five sects with some foundations in the Central Continent. Not to mention the regions to the east, west, south, and north, the overall strength of the Five Great Immortal Sects might not even match that of The Great Xia Dynasty that rules the Central Continent. In such a case, how strong can the strongest of the Five Great Immortal Sects be, to allow this celestial to ascend again? The leader quickly bowed his head in acknowledgment. There is still some time before the great age of strife truly erupts, enough for this celestial to return to the peak. I need a body that has just begun cultivating. With that body as a vessel, this celestial can return to the celestial realm. If lucky, perhaps even surpass Ying Tian, Qilin, and others, bing the foremost among the ancients. By then, even if this celestial intervenes to protect humanity, the risk of falling will be greatly reduced. The wisdom of the celestial is unmatched. Go and gather all the followers in the Foundation Building and Qi Training stages; this celestial will personally choose who is worthy to be possessed by me. Yes. Celestial , I have a question. Child, ask. Who was it that transformed the myriad of stars into continents? Legend has it that the Evesting Celestial witnessed this event that ended the ancient era. Evesting Celestial closed his eyes, shook his head, and said, Your cultivation realm is too low; this is not something you should know. The leader was somewhat disappointed, but he admitted thatpared to the immortal, he was far too inferior. Before leaving, the leader hesitated and asked, Your name seems not ordinary? What the leader really wanted to say was, I really couldnt think of any name, so I randomly made up Shameless. Why would a celestial have such a strange name? Evesting Celestials face darkened, and he remained silent. The leader realised his question was inappropriate and excused himself to leave. After leaving the secret chamber, the leader quickly gathered the three vice-leaders and the elders, but only Vice-leader Jin was present. He learned upon inquiry that Vice-leaders Liu and Gao had taken celestial treasures to the Dao Seeking Sect and lost their lives. They wanted power and position so badly they gave up their lives?! The leader clenched his teeth in anger, guessing the foolish thoughts of those two, likely aiming to make a name for themselves in the Dao Seeking Sect to vie for the leaders position. But why go to the Dao Seeking Sect? You might enter alive, but will you leave alive? How long has it been since the Five Elements Sects visit to the Dao Seeking Sect? Just half a day, and no word back yet. The leader took a deep breath, No need to wait for news; they must have been caught by the Dao Seeking Sect. Maybe the Dao Seeking Sect already knows our headquarters location! Theres only one course of action now. Surrender? The leader exploded in anger, Surrender my ass! Have you ever seen a demonic cult surrender to the righteous path? Are we making history then? The leader resisted the urge to strangle the elder and said, Quickly move the base, go to backup site number five! Oh. To prevent the high ranks from being captured and revealing the location of the headquarters and backup sites, each vice-leader was only aware of one backup sites location. For example, Vice-leader Liu knew the location of backup site number three, and Vice-leader Gao knew the location of backup site number four. In just two months, they had to move from the second to the third backup site, all because of the Dao Seeking Sect. The Undying Sect acted swiftly, quickly packing up and heading to backup site number five. The leader peeked into the secret chamber, Celestial, should I carry you, or will you go on your own? Evesting Celestial: What is this feeling of impermanence? (End of the chapter) Chapter 185: Eldest Senior Sisters Plan Chapter 185: Eldest Senior Sisters n Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Eldest Senior Sister, this is your n? Naturally. Liu and Gao only know about the third and fourth backup sites. The Undying Sect will definitely move to the fifth backup site, the location of which is currently unknown. So, you three need to deceive Tang Yunsheng into trusting you, based on the reasons Ive given you. Get him to take you to the original site. The Undying Sect left in a hurry, so there will certainly be Undying Sect spies around the original site to inform those who havent received the message how to get to the backup site. When you three show up near there with Tang Yunsheng, it will definitely attract the attention of the Undying Sects followers. In the eyes of the Undying Sect, the three of you could have been captured by the Dao Seeking Sect and turned into double agents, untrustworthy. But Tang Yunsheng is different. The people of Undying Sect know that Tang Yunsheng has always been lurking outside the Dao Seeking Sect and has not been captured by them; he is trustworthy. If he brings the three of you to the original site, the Undying Sect will ept you and tell you the real location of their base. The ultimate goal of the n is for you to gain the trust of the Undying Sect. Evesting Fairy nodded frequently on the side, thinking this was a good idea. Tang Yunsheng hid near the prearranged meeting point close to the Dao Seeking Sect, anxiously awaiting the vice-leaders news. He watched as the Dao Seeking Sect sent away the Five Elements Sect, yet still did not see the vice-leaders, it was then he muttered to himself, realising that something was wrong. Its all over, Vice-leaders Liu and Gao must have been captured by that damned Dao Seeking Sect! Tang Yunsheng waited an entire day before he finally encountered Lu Yang and the others, fleeing in disarray. Why are there only the three of you, where are Vice-leaders Liu and Gao! Tang Yunsheng shook Lu Yangs shoulder. Lu Yangs eyes were vacant. Upon hearing Tang Yunshengs questioning, his eyes moistened, and his lips trembled as he burst into tears. Vice-leader Liu, Vice-leader Liu they they failed! At that moment, Vice-leader Liu took out a celestial treasure to perform a divine skill, but there was a hidden expert inside the Dao Seeking Sect who could resist the power of the treasure and fought fiercely with them! Meng Jingzhou, recalling the terrible scene, also started crying: Vice-leader Liu and the others would rather die than surrender, and they were beaten to death by that damned Dao Seeking Sect! Barbarian Bone just cried, unable to speak for a long timehe had forgotten his lines. The three cried uncontrobly, clearly showing genuine emotion. What! Tang Yunshengs face was filled with disbelief, and then he copsed to the ground. Both vice-leaders and five high-ranking members werepromised at the Dao Seeking Sect, how would he exin this upon returning? Wait, howe nothing happened to you three? Tang Yunsheng realized a problemthe vice-leaders and the high-ranking members had entered the Dao Seeking Sect through their barbecue restaurant, so the Dao Seeking Sect would definitely suspect them. Lu Yang steadied his emotions, Vice-leader Liu imprinted us with a mark in our minds, disguising us as puppets controlled by the vice-leaders powerful spiritual force. Thats why the Dao Seeking Sect let us go. Then you three should have continued to infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect. These were three rare undercover agents. Lu Yang shook his head, With this kind of experience, even if its not our fault, others wont ept us. Our business has plummeted, and were subjected to constant behind-the-back criticisms; theres no ce for us in the Dao Seeking Sect anymore. Tang Yunsheng patted Lu Yangs shoulder, Youve had a tough time. Lu Yangs genuine emotion shone through, his eyes revealing a hint of hatred as he continued, To sacrifice for the Undying Sect is nothing. But I definitely cannot let the traitor go! Traitor? Meng Jingzhou nodded vigorously, his eyes also filled with hatred and ferocity: Vice-leaders Liu and Gaos n was perfect, and with us as insiders, if not for a traitor, how could the vice-leaders have possibly failed? Before his demise, Vice-leader Liu secretly transmitted a message to us, revealing the identity of the traitor, instructing us to safely return to the Undying Sect and expose the traitor! Tang Yunshengs expression grew grave: Who is the traitor? This was no small matter. The surprise attack on the Dao Seeking Sect was a secret operation, known only to a few people within the sect, all high-ranking and influential. Suspecting anyone could lead to major issues! Lu Yang revealed the identity of the traitor: The third vice-leader, Vice-leader Jin! Its him! Tang Yunsheng raised his voice by several notches, then thought about it and it seemed reasonable. With three vice-leaders, and two of them now gone, the position of sect leader would inevitably fall to thest one remaining. Everything made sense. Lets go, we need to report this to the sect leader immediately! Tang Yunsheng realized the seriousness of the issue and urged them to leave without dy. These three were no longer undercover; they were now witnesses. Tang Yunsheng took them on a flying boat heading south, disembarking at arge city before leading them about three hundred li into the wilderness. Inspector, is the headquarters here? Lu Yang looked for a ce that resembled ancient ruins. Was the original site here? Tang Yunsheng revealed a cruel smirk: Three fools who know nothing of death, still dreaming of going to the headquarters? Maybe we wont even make it to the headquarters before Vice-leader Jins assassins get us! Who can guarantee that this isnt also the sect leaders intention? Or perhaps the sect leader, for the sake of the Undying Sects stability, grudgingly epted Jins n and decided to eliminate us. If we go to the headquarters, its uncertain whether we live or die, it would be walking right into a trap! These high-level games, anyone who gets involved dies, I dont want to meddle in these matters. The safest way now is to kill you three little brats, and Ill flee to somece where no one can find me! Tang Yunsheng was very rational, why should he care about exposing a mole? As a demonic cultivator, preserving his own life was his first priority! Simply find some remote wilderness, kill these three and cremate their bodies, and then the Undying Sect will have nothing to do with him! He was a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, and killing these three Foundation Building youngsters was as easy as flipping his hand! Lu Yang: Meng Jingzhou: Barbarian Bone: This was quite a deviation from Eldest Senior Sisters n; the second step was already problematic. Indeed, they had gained Tang Yunshengs trust, but that did not mean Tang Yunsheng was willing to take them to the Undying Sect. Eldest Senior Sister, what should we do? In the spiritual space, Lu Yang asked Eldest Senior Sister if she had any other brilliant ideas? Yun Zhi was still as expressionlessly calm as ever. Facing Lu Yangs question, her eyes seemed a bit evasive, then she looked directly at Lu Yang and spoke lightly. It is still fine, everything is still ording to n. Eldest Senior Sisters change in expression was subtle, but having lived with Eldest Senior Sister for a long time, Lu Yang was sensitive to such changes. This was clearly a sign of being unsettled. Lu Yang suddenly recalled some past events, such as the time when Eldest Senior Sister used boiling water for his baths when he was undergoing physical training, or how she always insisted he practice with tofu, or when she misunderstood the Moon Laurel Immortal Pces requests as proposals to him. Eldest Senior Sister was naive about the world. She appeared to have everything under control and acted stably and perfectly, but in reality, it was because her expression was always unchanging, giving people this illusion. (End of the chapter) Chapter 186: Everything is According to Plan Chapter 186: Everything is ording to n Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Evesting Fairy was furious. Tang Yunsheng, as her follower,cked even the most basic loyalty! She recalled the ancient times when she was a dominant ruler, with an entire of people loyal to her, considering it an honor to be her followers and taking her words as absolute. Lu Yang thought to himself, thats enough. This is still the result of worshiping the idealized immortal they imagined. If the Undying Sect knew what the real Evesting Fairy was like, let alone loyalty, he believed they would dissolve the sect the next day. Even Lu Yang, the sect founder, wanted to resign every day. If even the founder felt this way, it was even more unnecessary to mention the ordinary followers. Wait, why not change the approach, have Evesting Fairy resign, and have the Undying Sect collectively switch to another belief? The more Lu Yang thought about it, the better he liked the idea. Lu Yang was lost in his thoughts, but he wasnt panicking. With Eldest Senior Sister around, they wouldnt get hurt. The current problem was not knowing how to deal with Tang Yunsheng. To kill him wouldplicate subsequent ns; to not kill him would doom the three of them. It was a dilemma. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone werent afraid either. Beforeing, Lu Yang had told them that this trip was all within Eldest Senior Sisters n and nothing would go wrong. Is there anything more reliable than the words Eldest Senior Sister? Tang Yunsheng raised his hand and pulled out a blood-red broadsword entwined with malevolent spirits and vengeful ghosts from his storage space. Seeing that Lu Yang and the others did not react, he assumed they had lost the will to resist. After all, this was the normal reaction when facing an absolute level difference. Like Lu Yang, who seemed resigned to his fate, Tang Yunsheng had seen many such cultivators before. Kill! Tang Yunsheng emitted a terrifying aura, clearly a major demon who had killed countless people. He gave a ferocious smile, leapt high into the air with endless killing intent, aiming to chop the three into pieces, leaving no trace of their bodies! At that moment, space twisted near arge boulder, and the sect leader of the Undying Sect stretchedzily, walking out from the fifth backup site. He let others tidy up inside while he came out to rest. Then he saw Tang Yunsheng with a bloodied sword, leaping high, about to kill Lu Yang and the others, who stood motionless as if petrified. Sect Leader: Tang Yunsheng: The sect leader was full of question marks, wondering what was going on. Tang Yunsheng, what are you doing! Realizing it was not the time for questions, the sect leader shouted and made a bold move, capturing Tang Yunsheng with a sound of bones crunching. Wait, Sect Leader, I can exin Tang Yunsheng panicked. What kind of luck was this? He just picked a random ce, and the sect leader appeared? The sect leader didnt listen to Tang Yunshengs nonsense. Without regard for the consequences, he brutally scanned Tang Yunshengs mind, damaging his sanity in the process and learning of his memories. To be a demonic sect leader, one naturally wasnt a kind person. Killing and looting, scanning minds C these were things he had done often. The sect leader finally understood the whole story. Lu Yang and the others had sessfully infiltrated the Dao Seeking Sect, but because of the actions of Vice-leaders Liu and Gao, the n to infiltrate waspletely ruined. That was not all. After Liu and Gaos failure, they revealed that Vice-leader Jin was a traitor. Lu Yang and the others, loyal to the core, intended to report this to the headquarters but were nearly killed due to Tang Yunshengs selfishness. Damn fool! The sect leader crushed Tang Yunsheng to death. If he hadnt appeared by chance, these three devoted seeds of the demonic path, Lu Yang and the others, would have died here! Actually, after the mind search, Tang Yunsheng had be a fool, practically no different from a dead man. You three have suffered. The sect leader consoled them, meeting Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, and Barbarian Bone for the first time. Talented and promising pirs of the demonic cult, future key ministers. Lu Yang: Lu Yang heard Tang Yunshengsst cry of Sect Leader, so this middle-aged man in front of him is the Undying Sects Sect Leader? He just came out from the fifth backup site? And the three of them have gained the Sect Leaders trust? A string of questions popped into Lu Yangs mind. Is there a step missing? How did they achieve their goal so quickly? Inside the spiritual space, Eldest Senior Sister remained unchanged, still detached from worldly concerns, and said, Everything is ording to n. Evesting Fairy looked up to Eldest Senior Sister in admiration, thinking how clever and calcting this young girl was, something she herself could never achieve. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone also thought this was part of Eldest Senior Sisters n, feeling deep admiration towards Eldest Senior Sister, feeling that nothing could escape her calctions. With Eldest Senior Sister around, they felt secure. Only Lu Yang looked puzzled, suspecting it all to be coincidental. But considering Eldest Senior Sisters abilities, he felt that even coincidences were part of the n. Yes, Eldest Senior Sisters n is perfect. Originally, the Sect Leader thought Lu Yang and the others were talents with great potential, suitable to be possessed by Evesting Celestial. But he was worried that if they died in the Dao Seeking Sect, or if they were not killed, they could potentially be turned by the Dao Seeking Sect, making them untrustworthy and unfit to be called to the headquarters for testing. Now, having witnessed this scene and with Tang Yunshengs memories as confirmation, all doubts dissipated. As for the matter of Vice-leader Jin, do not speak of it to anyone. I hope only the four of us know about this, the Sect Leader believed the im that Vice-leader Jin was a traitor could have been a desperatest usation by Liu and Gao. Evesting Fairy nodded. Eldest Senior Sister nodded. Evesting Fairy half-nodded, then frowned, This person is strange. Why do I sense a familiar aura from him? The aura was too faint and required careful attention, Its like the evesting ariya-ph, but not quite, odd. Hearing Evesting Fairys mutterings, Yun Zhi raised an eyebrow, feeling that the truth about the Undying Sect might be different from what she had imagined. The Sect Leader personally led Lu Yang and the others into the fifth backup site. Lu Yang and the others finally arrived at the headquarters of the Undying Sect, but the scene was not what they had imagined. Instead of a vision of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, or a terrifying atmosphere with old demons lurking in the shadows as expected of the Undying Sects headquarters, the reality was quite different. Followers were busily moving about, carrying bricks, sawing wood, constructing buildings and altars, engaged in extensive building activities. The Sect Leader casually mentioned, For safety and to avoid being tracked by the Dao Seeking Sect, we just moved here. Although everything has been moved, it still needs to be organized and built. You three have arrived just in time. The sect is preparing for an internal selection; soon, arge group of followers of the Foundation Building and Qi Training stages will arrive, and you willpete on the same stage. The best among you will gain the favor of Evesting Celestial. Enough talk for now. You three will stay here for the time being. When the selection begins, someone will notify you. I have other matters to attend to. With that, the Sect Leader hurried off. The Undying Sect no longer had any backup sites avable; he needed to select three new ones as a precaution. His sess as Sect Leader was due not only to his cultivation level but also to his caution. (End of the chapter) Chapter 187: The Thoughtful Cult Leader Chapter 187: The Thoughtful Cult Leader Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Inside the spiritual space, two peerless beauties sat side by side, each with their own grace, pleasing to the eye. Yun Zhi held a scroll quietly, sitting with the air of someone uninvolved with worldly affairs. Evesting Fairy sat sprawled out, yawning out of boredom, appearing as if cut off from the world. Little girl, at our level, do we really need to read books page by page? With a sweep of our divine sense, wouldnt we know everything? Evesting Fairy yawned as she spoke,pletely disregarding her image. Lu Yang shook his head as he watched, thinking what a pity it was for such a beautiful fairy to be so restless. Yun Zhi smiled and shook her head, Senior, you dont understand. The greatest joy of books is to flip through them page by page. You never know what surprises the next page might bring. If you use divine sense to scan, isnt that great joy lost? Evesting Fairy thought about it and felt it made sense, So what book are you reading? How to be a Good Senior Sister. Thats a unique name. Yes, I wrote it myself. Lu Yang casually asked, with no intention of stirring trouble, Eldest Senior Sister, dont you mind the fairy calling you little girl? Evesting Fairy red at Lu Yang. Was this something a cult leader should ask? Yun Zhi nodded slightly, her movement almost imperceptible, Senior is not wrong. Even if we dont consider that seniors era is three hundred thousand years from now, even by her actual age, its not wrong for her to call me little girl.'' Perhaps out of a misguided sense of bravery, Evesting Fairy spoke up firmly, Hey hey hey, I cant just ignore that. Im only sixteen years old! Lu Yang picked up on her words, Are you referring to your IQ or the developmental stage of your brain? Evesting Fairy became furious and started shouting, challenging Lu Yang to a duel, while Lu Yang, not to be outdone, hid behind Eldest Senior Sister. Come out if you dare! Come here if you dare! Neither of them backed down. Amidst the noise, Eldest Senior Sister continued reading quietly. In the middle of their argument, Lu Yang suddenly remembered, Eldest Senior Sister, dont you need to astral travel to check theyout of this headquarters? Lu Yang and the others were too low in cultivation to wander around, but Eldest Senior Sister was different; her spirit could leave her body undetected. In reality, Lu Yang and hispanions were earnestly cultivating, not going anywhere. Evesting Fairy rolled her eyes, Her? Shes already astral traveled. What you see now is just a split soul she left behind. If it were not just a split soul, Evesting Fairy wouldnt dare speak to Yun Zhi in such a manner. Lu Yang: truly undetectable. Even to himself. The Undying Sect was filled with powerful experts, including some of the most remarkable beings, but none noticed a spirit moving within the headquarters, quietly observing everything. Yun Zhis cultivation was profound, allowing her free ess to the Undying Sect headquarters. She discovered that the Undying Sect headquarters was meticulously arranged, with twenty-five exits. In case of an emergency, the disciples could escape through these exits, making it difficult to capture them all. However, Yun Zhi had already located all twenty-five exits and locked them with her spirit. Once she acted, she ensured no one could escape, catching them like turtles in a jar. She noted that the cave heaven where the headquarters was located was somewhat deste, likely a relic from the Great Yu era, and had been identally discovered by the Undying Sect. Yun Zhi continued flying deeper into the headquarters, noticing a secret chamber in the deepest part. The chamber was fortified with various formations, ensuring that no one could enter silently. Except for Yun Zhi. Inside the chamber, Yun Zhi saw the cult leader worshiping a statue of the Evesting Celestial. From the statue, a thick smoke slowly drifted out, forming the image of an old man. Hmm? Yun Zhi frowned. Neither the cult leader nor the Evesting Celestial noticed Yun Zhi, who had hidden her presence to the extreme. Celestial, I am puzzled about something and seek your guidance. Child, ask. The ancient texts say you thirst for blood and killing. To please you, we have in countless. The souls of the deceased are one of the sources of my power. The cult leader looked troubled, For the Celestials recovery to his peak, our killings are not an issue, but recently, the market has been tough, the righteous are investigating more strictly, and our followers are having a hard time. Just a few days ago, I organized a quiz on criminalw and a lecture on the rules of illegal evidence exclusion to improve our followers cultural level and control over thew, to reduce evidence left behind during crimes. If caught, studying criminalw could also help defend oneself. The Evesting Celestial scratched his chin, Are you suggesting that I should also organize a legal ss? No, Ive realized the followers learning abilities are concerning, and they dislike studying criminalw. To enhance their enthusiasm for learning, I propose changing your statues pose to one holding a criminalw book, and publicly im that you, Celestial, also frequently study criminalw. The Evesting Celestial: Do you have anything else? Yes, I want to ask if your poweres from killing humans, or could it be from killing others? To be honest, my family used to run a ughterhouse. Although we no longer do, Im familiar with the process. What do you think about transforming the Undying Sect into the Immortal ughterhouse? Going legitimate could ensure our followers safety. Our sect also has three talented barbecue chefs. We could start a barbecue chain linked to the ughterhouse, creating an industrial chain, benefiting us in multiple ways! Seeing the Evesting Celestial about to speak, the cult leader continued, Are you worried about tax issues? Dont worry about that; Im wanted because I evaded too much tax. Out of desperation, I turned to the demonic path, but Im a professional when ites to tax matters! The cult leader spoke with evident confidence, his eyes gleaming. Evesting Celestial: Is there anything else, or may I go back? Just one small thing. The cult leader respectfully pulled out a few sheets of paper. What are these? An evacuation drill n. Weve changed headquarters and are still unfamiliar with the escape routes. Were about to conduct arge-scale drill, assuming an attack by the righteous. Well run immediately. Celestial, would you like to join? Evesting Celestial was silent for a long time, considering whether to descend himself and let the cult leader ascend to be the belief. No, I can appear at will on my statue, the righteous cant catch me. Also, organize the trials soon, I need to possess a body and begin my cultivation to return to my peak sooner. Got it. Hmm? Shes back. In the spiritual space, Evesting Fairy suddenly said, but Lu Yang sensed nothing. In Evesting Fairys view, a golden light flew from the outside world towards this ce, merging with Yun Zhi here. The fairy is truly a celestial, possessing real power. Eldest Senior Sister put down her book, her expression slightly different from before, eyebrows slightly furrowed, seemingly having discovered something. She looked towards Evesting Fairy, hesitantly saying, Senior, you have a fake. What? (End of the chapter) Chapter 188: The Drill Chapter 188: The Drill Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Eldest Senior Sister recounted what she had witnessed in the secret chamber, which greatly infuriated Evesting Fairy. Which bastard dares to impersonate me? Dont they know that I was undefeated across the heavens in the ancient times, and everyone would avoid me on sight? Evesting Fairy had the right to be proud. Any cultivator who mastered the art of words intows would be considered invincible among their peers, yet they still died by Evesting Fairys hand. I feel a familiar aura on the cult leader. Could it be from that person who is impersonating me? The more Evesting Fairy thought about it, the angrier she became, moring to confront the Evesting Celestial and reveal his true identity! Yun Zhi stopped Evesting Fairy: Senior, please dont rush. That self-proimed Evesting Celestial can appear freely within his statue, and since his statues are scattered across the entire continent, if we let him escape now, it will be difficult to catch himter. So you mean When the cult leader spoke with the Evesting Celestial, he mentioned a selection that was to take ce. Officially, its a talent recruitment, but in reality, its for the Evesting Celestial to choose a body to possess. If we make Lu Yang the target for possession, the Evesting Celestial will walk into our trap, and then he wont be able to escape. Evesting Fairy, as if awakened from a dream: Little girl, you have quite the mind! Hmm? Yun Zhi raised an eyebrow. Seeing the fairy, who was not the sharpest, potentially annoying Eldest Senior Sister, Lu Yang quickly fled the scene. Eldest Senior Sister, when disembodied, did not care about how she was addressed, but now with her spirit whole, it was a different story. Fairy, youre on your own. But what exactly is the situation with the Evesting Celestial? Lu Yang never expected there to actually be an Evesting Celestial. Was the ancient fifth celestial really the Evesting Celestial, or was it Evesting Fairy? Emotionally, Lu Yang leaned towards thetter; in terms of prestige, towards the former. Or was there a sixth celestial in ancient times? Lu Yang opened his eyes, exiting his meditative state, and assessed his current realm. I should now be at the peak of the mid-Foundation Building stage, just half a step away from thete Foundation Building stage. What are you even talking about? Meng Jingzhou, who had alsoe out of his meditation,ined beside him. Barbarian Bone thoughtfullymented, Is dividing realms into such detailed stages also a reason for Brother Lus strength? Meng Jingzhou quickly stopped Barbarian Bone: Dont think too much, Lu Yang is just being neurotic, you shouldnt follow in his footsteps. You three, get ready for the drill! A cult member at the door reminded them. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were confused. Drill? What drill? The loudspeaker arrays ced all around started announcing: Attention all, the righteous path is about to attack, attention all, the righteous path is about to attack! There were also cult followers outside screaming to add to the atmosphere: The righteous path is here, were doomed! Run for it! Wed rather die than surrender! Lets fight the righteous path! Hahaha, the dogs of the righteous path, dont think you can catch me! May the Evesting Celestial protect us! Then came the hurried sounds of running. Lu Yang: you guys are really into your roles. Lu Yang quickly exined the situation about the drill to Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, and they finally understood what was happening. The three of them hurried out of the room, shouting as they ran, Its bad, the Great Xia Dynasty in alliance with the Five Great Immortal Sects have attacked! Someone ahead red at them: Stop thering nonsense, if the Great Xia Dynasty and the Five Great Immortal Sects really came, wed have to switch to a surrender drill! Clearly, the Undying Sect had a detailed categorization for different types of drills. On their escape route, Lu Yang saw cult members deftly packing things away into storage rings, their actions heartbreakingly practiced. Some were wailing, dering they would share the fate of the headquarters. Others took advantage of the chaos to steal things, making a tidy profit. Hey, what the hell are you doing! a cult member caught a thief in the act. The thief responded without looking back, Its just a drill, it has to be as real as possible, all of this could actually happen! Catch the thief! The Undying Sect was inplete disarray, the drill eerily realistic. Lu Yang and the others left with the cult members toward an exit. After leaving through the exit, not knowing how far they had traveled, they arrived at apletely unfamiliar ce. The person in charge of covering their rear at this safe passage was Deputy Cult Leader Jin, who destroyed the exit and erased their traces, making it impossible for the righteous path to find them. His movements were smooth, clearly well-practiced. The cult members apuded, delighted with the sessful conclusion of their act. Only Barbarian Bone had a question: How are we supposed to get back? Silence fell instantly. Right, previous drills hadnt involved actually breaking the passage, so why break it this time? With the passage broken and the traces erased, how could they return the way they came? There was no way back! Deputy Cult Leader Jin was somewhat embarrassed; he had gotten too carried away with the drill, making it seem as real as if the righteous path were truly on their heels. However, as the deputy leader, he quickly found a remedy. Everyone, dont panic, I have a flying boat in my storage ring that can hold all of us. Well fly back. Inside the sect, there were many experts, and aside from a few like Lu Yang, everyone could fly. But arge group of cultivators flying through the sky would easily attract the attention of the Great Xia Dynasty. If a few constables from the Great Xia came to investigate, stopping them and asking for identification, then well, theyd find they were dealing with major wanted criminals, with sentences no lighter than life imprisonment. That would indeed be a farce. It was better to take the flying boat, disguising themselves as low-level cultivators on a rental boat trip, amon enough sight not likely to draw scrutiny. Deputy Cult Leader Jin took an old-looking flying boat out of his storage ring, deliberately choosing one that wouldnt attract official attention. The others, all seasoned schemers, understood Deputy Cult Leader Jins thinking and sat on the flying boat, suppressing their cultivation levels and disying only Qi Cultivation stage outwardly, making the three Foundation Building stage cultivators the highest in cultivation visible. Deputy Cult Leader Jin reassured everyone on the flying boat: Actually, its not a big problem. ording to the speed of the flying boat, by the time we return, the talents from the branches, both Foundation Building and Qi Cultivating, will have almost arrived. The timing will be just right. The flying boat moved unhurriedly through the sky, blissfully unaware of the danger that was approaching. Near the flying boat hovered three figures in gray robes. How about that flying boat? Its not one from the Land of Gold Commerce or the other major tradingpanies; it looks pretty old, probably rented. Lots of people, but weak cultivation. Just three at the Foundation Building stage. Worth robbing, maybe someones hiding something good. Hit this one? Lets do it! The three in gray robes transformed into streaks of light, rapidly approaching the flying boat and forming a formation that trapped it. Dont move, this is a robbery! One, his face fierce with two scars like shes, clearly a desperado. You might have heard of the fearsome Hu Brothers; just hand over your valuables, and we promise not to kill! Another extended his tongue, licking a sharp knife, looking somewhat deranged. If you dontply, dont me us for being ruthless! The third issued a series of eerie cries, like the wailing of ghosts, extremely unnerving. Dont think we wont kill. Weve killed more people than youve even seen! They released a terrifying aura, intimidating everyone present. These three were at the early stage of Nascent Soul! Normally, just releasing their aura would make the other party give up resistance, hand over their valuables, and beg for their lives. Whether they spared anyone depended on their mood. Then the Hu Brothers saw that the passengers on the flying boat werent scared but instead were all showing eerie smiles. One by one, the passengers released their auras: Nascent Soul Stage, Spirit Transformation Stage, Void Refinement Stage The Hu Brothers, feeling auras far beyond their understanding, swallowed hard. It seemed they had made a mistake. Deputy Cult Leader Jin stood up, leisurely asking, I hear youve killed more people than weve seen? (End of the chapter) Chapter 189: A Prominent Figure Chapter 189: A Prominent Figure Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii What are you going to do? The Hu brothers trembled uncontrobly, shaking like chaff. Deputy Cult Leader Jin disyed a ssic cold smile: Do you know who we are? No, we dont know. Not knowing us, you deserve to die! The Hu brothers quickly responded, No, no, no, we know who you are. Since you know our identity, we cant let you live! The three brothers nearly cried; should they know their identity or not? Deputy Cult Leader Jin stopped toying with the Hu brothers and easily killed them. The brothers were just a minor episode on the journey back. As the flying boat traveled on, several powerful auras enveloped it, ranging from half-step Spirit Transformation Stage to early Spirit Transformation Stage. The Hu brothers should have contacted us at this point, but they havent. You were the only ones who passed through this area during that time. Did you kill my men? The eldest of the Hu brothers sought revenge for the trio. Lu Yang pondered, Is this the so-called beat the small, face the big? He had heard of such tales before; a young hero fights the bully, then the bullys father shows up, followed by the grandfather, and then the great-grandfather, endlessly. (TL Note: Common trope in normal cultivation novels) This Sisyphean spirit deeply moved Lu Yang. Needless to say, the eldest of the Hu brothers was also easily killed by Deputy Cult Leader Jin. The flying boat continued on, and soon an even stronger aura enveloped it. So, you killed Deputy Cult Leader Jin: are you guys done yet? As a cultivator at the Unity Stage, he could not tolerate repeated provocations. Deciding to put an end to it once and for all, he directly attacked the stronghold of the bandits and wiped them out. When the flying boat returned to headquarters, Deputy Cult Leader Jin held a silk banner, his expression one ofplete disinterest. The banner was officially issued, so no one suspected that Deputy Cult Leader Jin was part of a demonic cultafter all, which demonic cult would remove nuisances for the people? Upon hearing of this, the cult members whispered among themselves, filled with admiration for Deputy Cult Leader Jin. Truly worthy of being the deputy leader, earning a banner from the righteous path, ying both sides, truly omnipotent! Indeed, I heard that before joining the demonic path, Deputy Cult Leader Jin was a prominent figure in the righteous path! Lu Yang was quite surprised to hear this and quickly asked, He has such a background? What did the deputy leader do in the righteous path? He was a night watchman. Deputy Cult Leader Jin could also control time when he was in the righteous path, right? Lu Yang finally said after a while. The cult member discussing with Lu Yang looked at him in surprise: Thats an interesting point I hadnt thought of! The cult member ran to Deputy Cult Leader Jin and shared Lu Yangs idea, which pleased him greatly. He found Lu Yang andmended his broad thinking. Great idea! From now on, Ill say I was a prominent figure in the righteous path who could control the time of an entire city! In the demonic path, the most important thing is to tell the truth while making oneself sound as formidable as possible. Although Lu Yang had caused some trouble during his initiation test, those were things of the past, and now Deputy Cult Leader Jin found Lu Yang more and more to his liking. Due to the dy caused by the flying boat journey, talents from various regions, both Qi Cultivation and Foundation Building, had almost all arrived. Lu Yang and hispanions were among thest few. Lu Yang skipped over the Qi Cultivation talents, as they posed no threat, and focused his attention on the Foundation Building talents. He learned about some of the most famous Foundation Building talents from the people around. See that monk in the monks robe with a golden bowl? Hes called the Meat-Eating Monk. I heard he had a chance to join one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, the Hanging Temple, but he resolutely gave it up, making a vast vow to find the path to enlightenment on his own! And that one with the sword, could it be the rumored Sword Demon Guzha? Its said that his demonic sword is extremely bizarre; the moment it was forged, the sword floated in the air and killed the cksmith. After that, each owner of the demonic sword was devoured by it, including those at the Spirit Transformation Stage. Only Guzha has been able to wield it up to now! The most formidable is Yan Fei, who is said to be a prodigy personally trained by the cult leader. He excels at drawing talismans and has even used them to trap several Golden Core cultivators, ying with them cruelly before killing them. His methods are extremely brutal! Needless to say, these three were all at theter stages of Foundation Building. Lu Yangmunicated telepathically to the other two: Lets not approach them yet, pretend we dont know each other. We dont know the content of the test yet, so well see if we need to form a team based on the situation. Only the cult leader and a few other high-ranking members knew of the deep demonic roots of Lu Yang and his twopanions. None of the Foundation Building talents had heard of them. The cult leader appeared in the air, hands behind his back, his expression cold, as he announced the rules of thepetition. Everyone noticed a mark on their hand with a number one written in the middle, not knowing when it had appeared. In this test, you may kill at will. For each person you kill, you will acquire the number on their mark. The one with the highest number on their mark will be the final victor, and the victor will receive the blessing of the Evesting Celestial. The crowd disyed fervent expressions, except for Lu Yang and his two aplices who were pretend devotees. The others were true believers in the Evesting Celestial, and receiving his blessing was the highest reward in the Undying Sect. Foundation Building stage as one group, Qi Cultivation stage as another; each group will have one winner. The test period is two days. Lu Yang thought to himself that it was just like a demonic cult to have killing as a test, not caring if it meant killing off all participants, risking a gap in generations. The cult leader waved his sleeve, and without any chance for resistance, everyone disappeared from the spot and appeared in a dense forest. This ce is a forest from the era of Great Yu, containing various heavenly materials and earthly treasures. You may engage inbat or seek opportunities for breakthroughs. Remember, the Evesting Celestial is watching you, the cult leader hinted, a meaning only Lu Yang understood. Thepetition starts now. After announcing the start of thepetition, the cult leader respectfully asked the Evesting Celestial why he chose such a method to select a candidate for possession. Wouldnt it be easier to choose directly based on talent? The Evesting Celestial smiled benevolently: Child, what do you think makes one the strongest? Is it a singr spirit root? An Immortal Physique? These are unimportant. Even with a worthless body, as long as I wish, I can possess it and cultivate it to the Tribtion Crossing Stage, even to a celestial. Whats most important ispatibility with me. In a test of life and death, ones potential is best revealed. I need them to show themselves to the fullest, so I can observe and choose who is the mostpatible with me. The cult leader then asked, What are the traits of someone with highpatibility? Someone who pleases my eye. Do you find me pleasing to look at? I find you the least pleasing. But I am your most devout follower! the cult leader protested. (End of the chapter) Chapter 190: A Great Opportunity! Chapter 190: A Great Opportunity! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Fierce battles were seen everywhere in the dense forest, chilling to watch as they urred one after another. The demonic path is ruthless and full of cunning schemes, with everyone unleashing their full potential and true nature here. The Meat-Eating Monk, Sword Demon Guzha, and Yan Fei need no further mention as they were the popr contenders. Aside from them, many others, usually unremarkable, shocked everyone with their performance in this test. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone stood out significantly, with several opponents falling to their fists or being smashed by their hammers. Their reputation grew, and more and more participants knew of these ruthless fighters and preferred to avoid them. Both were covered in blood, their aura murderous, their eyes bloodshota clear sign of ruthless killers gone mad. Barbarian Bones ancient barbarian lineage was further stimted. In ancient times of constant war, the barbarian tribes, as one of the strongest races, were no strangers to subduing enemies. Inherent in their bones were the spirits of bloodshed, resistance and the curse of the Yellow Bean. These two were previously unheard of; where did they spring from? With their strength, they are on par with the Meat-Eating Monk. Look, even he prefers to operate in different areas to avoid confronting them! Perhaps theyve gained some legacy or maybe theyre seeds secretly cultivated by the elders! Its just unclear who among them is the stronger. Both on and off the field, everyone discussed Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone. Meng Jingzhous iron fists were invincible, exploding a mid-Foundation Building cultivator with a single puncha yer with some reputation. Currently at the mid-Foundation Building stage himself, as a Dao Seeking Sect disciple and a direct descendant of the Meng family, he was unbeatable among his peers once he left the Dao Seeking Sect. Barbarian Bone, surrounded by the sound of Saints Words, hammered down one opponent after another without even blinking, his bizarre dissonance making him appear almost insane. Finally, the two met, their eyes rebellious, neither willing to submit to the other. Barbarian Bone raised his hammer and demanded, State your name! Meng Jingzhou! And you are? Barbarian Bone. Both men were men of few words, not given to idle chatter, and started fighting immediately. Both were top contenders among the Foundation Builders, the sh of their battle breaking trees and shaking the heavens as trees were snapped in half by the shockwaves of their fight. Otherpetitors watched from a distance, hoping these two would inflict mutual destruction, allowing them to reap the benefits. Both had high numbers on their marks, and whoever could kill them would gain their numbers. This was a fortune that tempted everyone! The Meat-Eating Monk and Sword Demon Guzha watched from the shadows, inwardly rmed. These two are as threatening as Yan Fei! Very powerful, but still inferior to me. I have not yet revealed all my cards, and I have already seen through these two. Unexpectedly, besides Yan Fei and the Meat-Eating Monk, such formidable opponents are here, truly hidden dragons and crouching tigers! Perfect, my demonic sword is thirsty. The blood of these worthless ones does not satisfy it, but the blood of these peerless talents is exactly what it craves! Hahaha, its been a long time since Ive met opponents worthy of battling me! Meng Jingzhouughed out loud. Barbarian Bone was equally thrilled, the blood of the ancient barbarians boiling within him. Another ancient tree fell during their battle, and when it broke, a bodhi tree appeared before them. On the bodhi tree, three little babies swung in the wind. The bodhi tree, known for its mind-calming and concentration-enhancing effects, lent the scene an air of sanctity. Meng Jingzhou was astonished: Is that really a Bodhi Ginseng Fruit Tree!? Ginseng fruit? Barbarian Bone was equally surprised. With a sacred object before them, both chose to cease fighting simultaneously. Is this the legendary ginseng fruit tree? Barbarian Bone asked, somewhat skeptical. Meng Jingzhou nodded, No mistake, see those three chubby little babies hanging on the tree? Arent they just like the legendary ginseng fruits? Barbarian Bone then asked, But how can ginseng fruits grow on a bodhi tree? Meng Jingzhou gave him a look as if he were unworldly: Thats because you dont know. Why do you think ginseng fruits are so rare, that not a single ginseng fruit tree can be found in the world? Its because there are no ginseng fruit trees! Ginseng fruits are produced in harmony with the rhythm of heaven and earth and only appear on other trees. When a tree absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, ginseng fruits naturally emerge. Among many trees, the bodhi tree is the most mystical and has many legends associated with it, making it the most suitable host for the growth of ginseng fruits! Barbarian Bone had an epiphany, not realizing thisyer of meaning before. With the ginseng fruits in front of them, it was a great opportunity, and there was no need to continue fighting. Even if they each took one, there would still be one left over. Originally, the others did not recognize the ginseng fruit, but hearing Meng Jingzhous logical analysis, they believed these were indeed ginseng fruits. Recalling what the cult leader had said about great opportunities within this dense forest. Could it be these three ginseng fruits? Charge! Those hiding in the shadows rushed forward, determined to pluck a ginseng fruit! Sword Demon Guzha threw a cow hair needle, and Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone sensed the hidden weapon, leaping back to dodge the attack. This created a distance between them and the ginseng fruit, providing an opportunity for the others. Even withpetitors like Meng Jingzhou and the Meat-Eating Monk present, they had to take their chances. Obtaining a ginseng fruit could smooth their path of cultivation thereafter. It was worth risking their lives! Sword Demon Guzha was the first to grab one; he didnt linger, plucking it and fleeing. So this is a ginseng fruit, it feels like meat, no wonder its called ginseng fruit! Regretting their slow reaction, the others chased after him relentlessly, but Sword Demon Guzha was quicker on his feet, and soon, he shook them off in the dense forest. Whats yours is only yours when its absorbed, believing in this, Sword Demon Guzha bit down on it. But he couldnt bite through it. Could it be that although the ginseng fruit feels like meat, it bes incredibly hard when you try to eat it? As he pondered how to consume the ginseng fruit, his expression suddenly changed. Not good, its poisoned! He looked incredulous; the surface of the ginseng fruit was highly toxic! Who would do such a thing? This was a ginseng fruit, and such a method of poisoning was nothing short of sacrilegious! Then, the ginseng fruit spoke: Didnt anyone ever tell you not to pick wild fruits from the roadside? As Sword Demon Guzha regretted his actions on the verge of death, the ginseng fruit moved. Three inches tall Lu Yang stretched, having yed the role of a ginseng fruit for so long, he was finally able to move. This was a new skill he had developed while being tormented by his Dao Seeking Sect seniorsfirst to shrink in size, then to minimize his presence, using the Tree nting Technique. Thus, three little Lu Yangs appeared on the bodhi tree, and with Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone acting as shills promoting him, he transformed into a ginseng fruit. He even coated himself with ayer of potent poison. Those capable of grabbing the ginseng fruit would certainly be highly cultivated, ensuring the poison hit its mark every time. And they call this the demonic path? So easy to deceive. Lu Yang shook his head in disdain, killing Guzha. The standards of this generation of the demonic path arecking, as the three of them from the righteous path could easily trick the demonic path into circles. (End of the chapter) Chapter 191: The Demonic Sword Chapter 191: The Demonic Sword Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The mark in Lu Yangs palm showed the number one, while Guzhas disyed eighty-seven. After Lu Yang killed Guzha, his mark changed to eighty-eight. Is this the notoriously evil demonic sword? Its hosts have all been killed by the sword, with Guzha being the temporary exception? It was evident that Guzhacked any sense of morality, carelessly throwing things around; it was Lu Yang who picked them up. The demonic sword was dark red, with a handle that appeared to be made from the horn of some massive demon beast, and where the handle met the de, there was a dark red gem embedded, resembling an eye. Aside from its strange design, Lu Yang found nothing particrly special about it. Hmm, this sword is interesting. It uses the horn of a flood dragon for the handle and refined steel for the de, and that dark red gem is actually the eye of a demonic beast called Fei.'' (TL Note: The Fei or Fei-beast can be found on Great Mountain, the eighth andst of Chinas Eastern Mountains. It is shaped like an ox, with a white head and a single eye. Its tail is that of a snake. When a fei moves over grass, the nts below it wither and die. When it crosses a stream, the water evaporates at its touch. Its appearance is an omen of worldwide gue and wars. https://abookofcreatures/2017/06/16/fei/) Fei, a powerful demonic beast living in the wilderness, had a body like a bull, a white head, a single eye, and a snake-like tail. Evesting Fairy finally yed the role of a helpful guide, introducing the mystical aspects of the sword to Lu Yang. The materials of this sword are excellent. If forged properly, it could have be sentient. However, the cksmiths skills werecking, creating only a shell without bestowing sentience upon the sword. Even as just a shell, its a rare Spiritual Treasure. The sword inherently craves sentience, hence its bloodthirstiness. The more it kills, the more likely it is to be sentient. How can one be its master? Blood recognition should suffice, advised Evesting Fairy. However, I dont rmend you undertake blood recognition. This sword is insatiable; the more blood you feed it, the more it will want to devour its master. Yet, if you dont feed it blood, it will still turn on its master. There were simr traits in Spiritual Treasures from ancient times, and Evesting Fairy had seen numerous self-assured geniuses who believed they were exceptional enough to subdue such treasures. Most of them failed, with only a few seeding. I see. Lu Yang finally understood why the previous owners of the demonic sword were killed by itit never intended to let its masters live. Its quite an interesting sword. Guzha wasnt devoured by the sword simply because he hadnt held it long enough for it to turn on him. Lu Yang then asked, What would be the quality of the demonic sword if it gained sentience? Evesting Fairy disdainfully responded, It wouldnt even suffice as a stepping stone for me. Lu Yang just said Oh, realizing that the quality of the demonic sword wasnt very good. Eldest Senior Sister had been silent the whole time, quietly reading her book. She believed that with the abilities of Lu Yang and hispanions, winning first ce in thispetition was not a difficult task. In the meantime, the number on Lu Yangs palm mark jumped from eighty-eight to one hundred thirty-one. The Meat-Eating Monk was heavily targeted and did not manage to grab a ginseng fruit. The two somewhat famous Foundation Building practitioners who did grab the fruits were all poisoned to death. The other two ginseng fruits were also coated with deadly poison, but now too far away, Lu Yang couldnt sense the status of his ginseng fruit clone. Lu Yang deactivated his clone state and returned to his original height. He stored the demonic sword in his storage ring and looked for his next target. The storage ring was a temporary measure; after all, on the Undying Sects turf, it wouldnt be prudent to use his Dao Seeking Sect identity jade as a storage ringthat would be too arrogant. Hmm? Whose blood is this? Lu Yang noticed a few fresh drops of blood not far away, seemingly from someone who had fled while injured. Lets follow it. With the person injured, theirbat effectiveness would surely be reduceda straightforward gain. As Lu Yang had guessed, following the trail of the injured person, the bloodstains became more evident, turning from a few drops to a pool. It was clear the person was severely wounded. Eventually, Lu Yang came upon the injured personit was the Meat-Eating Monk! At that moment, the Meat-Eating Monk was grasping someone by the neck, and with a snap, he twisted and broke the persons neck. Another one lured into the trap, the Meat-Eating Monk said with a cruel smile. During the ginseng fruit scuffle, he had pretended to be overwhelmed and injured, fleeing to entice severalpetitors to chase him, whom he then turned on and killed one by one. Given my fearsome reputation, I had no other choice but to act this way, otherwise I would find no one to fight, the Meat-Eating Monk exined with a smile. As one of the three most outstanding contenders, others would flee at the sight of him, leaving him no opportunity to engage inbat. It was better to show a weakness and lure the fish to the bait. The Meat-Eating Monk eximed in surprise, You look familiar, but never mind, whoever you are, youre just unlucky to meet me! He thought Lu Yang looked familiar because he resembled the ginseng fruit, almost like a father and son, though the Monk hadnt made the connection. The Meat-Eating Monk clenched his fist, tensed his muscles, and the bleeding wound healed immediately. He pulled out his golden bowl, aiming to capture Lu Yang. Silently, Lu Yang took out the demonic sword from his storage ring, squatted down, and touched the blood left by the Meat-Eating Monk. The demonic sword instantly recognized the Meat-Eating Monk as its master. The sword floated in the air and hissed as it thrust towards the Meat-Eating Monk. Perhaps the sword had never encountered such a generous master before and wanted to embrace him warmlywith its de. The Meat-Eating Monk was shocked and horrified. Where had this demonic sworde from, and why was it attacking him? His long-apanying golden bowl was pierced straight through, and the Meat-Eating Monk struggled to fight. Lu Yang clicked his tongue, Doesnt seem like someone the Hanging Temple would be keen on. Hanging Temple, being one of the Five Great Immortal Sects with the fewest disciples, only epted those with exceptional talents. The Meat-Eating Monks abilities were barely enough for him to serve as a menial worker at Hanging Temple. Hanging Temple ims that everyone has a chance to enter, and I certainly had my chance. I just chose to give it up! the Meat-Eating Monk fought back as he spoke. You really know how to tter yourself. The Meat-Eating Monk was no match for the demonic sword and was stabbed through the heart in an instant. The demonic sword was once again without a master. Poor thing, just got a master, and hes gone already. Lu Yang picked up the demonic sword and continued on his way. Blood Drowns the Yellow Springs! Someone targeted Lu Yang,unching a sneak attack! A wave of blood surged towards Lu Yang, carrying the stench of blood, clearly identifiable. Lu Yang calmly pulled out the demonic sword again. As someone with a spirit suited for swordsmanship, understanding and creating sword techniques came naturally to him. He executed his newly created technique. The Mastering Sword Technique! The demonic sword sliced through the wave of blood, like a shark sensing blood, shing a sinister red light as it once again killed the person who attacked Lu Yang. Surging Blood Palm! Mastering Sword Technique! Blood Skeleton! Mastering Sword Technique! True to the demonic path, the techniques learned were either rted to ghosts and skeletons or to blood and spirits, very suitable for selecting masters for the demonic sword. Using the Mastering Sword Technique, Lu Yang defeated all challengers without a rival. Unfortunately, the masters of the demonic sword were exceptionally short-lived, none surviving beyond three seconds before being devoured. Lu Yang shook his head in regret; he just wanted to find asting master for the demonic sword, but why was it so difficult? Such a fine Spiritual Treasure, and you all are unworthy of it. More and more people became aware of Lu Yangs presence, and rumors spread that Lu Yang had be the master of the demonic sword, killing even more ruthlessly than Guzha. Some also recognized that Lu Yang resembled the ginseng fruit, and connecting the dots with those who were poisoned, they realized the ginseng fruit was a scam. In the dense forest, after the demonic sword habitually killed another master, Lu Yang encountered Meng Jingzhou. Meng Jingzhou looked at Lu Yang, grinding his teeth. Quite the trick, disguising yourself as a ginseng fruit and deceiving everyone! (End of the chapter) Chapter 192: The 6 Harmonies 8 Desolate Immortal Technique Chapter 192: The 6 Harmonies 8 Deste Immortal Technique Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yangs fearsome reputation was so great that not only did it overshadow the rookies who intentionally hid their strength to shine in thispetition, but he even surpassed the fame of the sect leaders sessor, Yan Fei. He disguised himself as a Ginseng Fruit, deceiving everyone. Later, wielding a demonic de, he struck terror into the hearts of many, leaving no one sure just how many were marked by the numbers in his palmcertainly, it was a terrifying count. Meng Jingzhou, truly skilled, was not intimidated by Lu Yangs fierce reputation. Heh, Ive heard your demonic de ensures death upon drawing blood, so its best if I remain unscathed. Lu Yang raised his eyebrows: Big talk, state your name! Meng Jingzhou! So its you. Ive long heard about your invincibility at the Foundation Building stage, mastering your physical cultivation to the extreme, earning the admiration of countless martial artists! Meng Jingzhou snorted coldly: Youre not too shabby yourself, Blood Sea de Demon Lu Yang, notorious enough to silence children, many say youre even stronger than Yan Fei. I wonder if thats true or not? Lets find out! Then lets fight! The two most eye-catching seededpetitors shed. Not only were the participants watching secretly, but even the upper echelons of the Undying Sect were keen to find out who was superior. Was it the cunning and deceitful Lu Yang, or the upright and honorable Meng Jingzhou? The sect leader and the deputy sect leader twitched at the corners of their eyes; had they not already known you were in league, I would have thought you didnt know each other. Such convincing performances. Deputy Sect Leader Jin finally conceded that the sect leader had a discerning eye, remarking that it was no wonder one was said to be a born demon and the other a reincarnation of a demonic path sage. To say these two were undercover agents of the righteous path, he wouldnt believe it. Oh, and theres also Barbarian Bone. Yan Fei, hiding in the bushes and watching the fight, was on high alert. Both were formidable enough to be considered his rivals, posing a greater threat than the dead Drunken Monk and ancient Guzawi. Lu Yang wielded his sword with unstoppable force, while Meng Jingzhous body refinement reached perfection down to his teeth. As they fought, even those in the Golden Core stage could engage them. The spectators were terrified, thinking these two were monsters. Ultimately, Lu Yang proved the stronger, defeating Meng Jingzhou. Knowing he was outmatched, Meng Jingzhou fled before sustaining injuries, causing the crowd to sigh; had Meng Jingzhou been injured, they could have pursued and finished him off together. Having killed Guzawi and the Drunken Monk, and defeated Meng Jingzhou, Lu Yangs reputation peaked, unmatched by anyone. Once again, Lu Yang disyed his de skills, killing countless opponents. Even Barbarian Bone, who knew not what fear was, chose to flee upon encountering Lu Yang rather than face him directly. Just when everyone thought Lu Yang would emerge as the strongest in thepetition, Meng Jingzhou made aeback. Meng Jingzhou looked vigorous, untroubled by his earlier defeat. Lu Yang, lets fight again! Lu Yang scoffed: A beaten foe, daring to speak of battle in my presence, die! With a swing of his demonic de, he struck with tremendous force, intending to cleave Meng Jingzhou in two. The crowd gasped; this was a full-powered assault from the start! This was exactly how Meng Jingzhou had lost before! Just when everyone thought the fight was decided with one blow, Meng Jingzhou unexpectedly countered the attack. Realizing Meng Jingzhou was different this time, Lu Yang put aside his arrogance and fought with all his might. Meng Jingzhousbat strength had soaredpared to before, matching Lu Yang blow for blow. Huff, huff, youve had a fortuitous encounter! Lu Yang suddenly realized, the only exnation for Meng Jingzhous increased strength. This battle greatly boosted Meng Jingzhous confidence: To think that barely starting out, one could increase in strength so rapidly, worthy of being a Six Harmonies Meng Jingzhou caught himself and immediately shut up. Barbarian Bone, hearing Meng Jingzhous half-spoken words, fell into deep thought, muttering to himself: Six Harmonies? Could it be the legendary Six Harmonies Eight Deste Immortal Technique?! Everyone hastily questioned Barbarian Bone about what this technique was, but he fled without answering. The Six Harmonies Eight Deste Immortal Technique, could it be a legacy of the Evesting Celestial? the crowd murmured. The inclusion of the word immortal in the techniques name inevitably sparked further spection. The battle between Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou ended in a draw, as both knew that continuing would not result in a victor. They tacitly parted ways. After disappearing for an entire day, Meng Jingzhou returned stronger than ever. He went directly to Lu Yang, who was cloaked. To everyones shock, Meng Jingzhous power had soared again, and he defeated Lu Yang! So fearsome was the Six Harmonies Eight Deste Immortal Technique! Die! Meng Jingzhou shouted, his palm piercing through Lu Yangs chest. Lu Yang coughed up blood continuously, his life force rapidly draining. Though resilient in life, Lu Yangs death was now certain and unavoidable. Ha, well done, Meng Jingzhou, youve truly seized the greatest opportunity! Lu Yangs expression turned fierce, perhaps reluctant to die in such a manner. He pulled an old book from his chest, causing Meng Jingzhous pupils to shrink suddenly. How could the immortal technique be with you! You stole it during the fight! The crowd was in an uproar, Lu Yang had stolen the immortal technique during the fightwhat sorcery was this, a legendary sleight of hand? Instantly, everyones heart burned with desire; the immortal technique in the dying Lu Yangs hands meant that anyone could potentially obtain it. As he bled, Lu Yangughed, Its a pity that I had the chance to steal the immortal technique but no opportunity to cultivate it. If so, then Ill make the immortal technique public, lets see what advantage you have left, Meng Jingzhou! Lu Yang threw the immortal technique into the air, using his blood as ink, forming the full text of the immortal technique in the sky! A grand opportunity! Meng Jingzhou was furious, he rushed to scatter the blood characters, trying to prevent the spread of the immortal technique. But it was toote; as Foundation Building cultivators, everyone present had photographic memories, able to recall everything after just one nce. Lu Yangughed heartily as his life faded. Meng Jingzhou was furious but powerless. The crowd dispersed, each seeking a safe ce to cultivate the immortal technique. Why am I not getting stronger after cultivating? some wondered. Wasnt Meng Jingzhou immediately powerful? Did I cultivate it wrongly? In a dense forest, Lu Yang and two others gathered, closing their eyes to sense the positions of others. This was not any immortal technique at all but a locating technique. As long as someone cultivated it, Lu Yang and the others could detect their positions. Whats the biggest problem in a forest battle? Not knowing the enemys location. Now that all the contestants were hidden, it was the perfect opportunity to defeat them one by one! The three of them moved out together, killing one after another, the numbers on their markings rapidly increasing. Yan Fei, not in a rush to cultivate, felt something was amiss. He found Lu Yangs body, lifted the hood, and to his surprise, it was the bald Lu Yang. A Bodhi tree clone! It was all fake! He quickly deduced, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou are in cahoots! Theres no such thing as the Six Harmonies Eight Deste Immortal Technique, and they are all in it together! In the distance, the sect leader who witnessed everything had a peculiar expression. Even this leader of the demonic path thought these three were too cunning. Inside a spiritual space, Evesting Fairy saw Eldest Senior Sister in contemtion, curious, What are you thinking about? Yun Zhi sighed, I wonder, can these three really not be killed by someone? Yun Zhi wasnt worried about Lu Yang and the others winning the championship; she was concerned that they might be killed before achieving it. Actually, I wanted to start the immortal technique with To practice this technique, one must first be castrated, but then I thought better of it. (End of the chapter) Chapter 193: Fusion! Chapter 193: Fusion! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Lu Yang spent several months in the first level of the scripture vault to develop his own techniques, discarding the Complete Collection of Crosstalk found there, among many other eye-opening techniques and methods. For instance, a technique he found allowed the practitioners location to be controlled by someone else after cultivation. ording to the records, this was written by a couple who were cultivators with the aim of monitoring each others movements. Then, the husband found out that his wife frequently visited the brothel, and the wife discovered that her husband frequented the brothel as well. Apart from this technique, Lu Yang also came across a technique for sleeping with open eyes, which proved very useful during sses. There was a technique that could make one extremely ugly, the purpose of which Lu Yang couldnt figure out. There was also a hibernation technique mimicking animals, where one could eat a meal and sleep for a quarter of a year; Lu Yang still couldnt see the practical use of it. Later, he realized that this was how the Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers cheated contribution points. Submitting to the mission hall techniques that the sect did not have backups for could earn contribution points. Eldest Senior Sister once monopolized this task to the extent that the mission hall had to create a special column just for her, so she didnt have to submit techniques over and over again. She simply had to ce the written techniques in the scripture vault, and she could use the contribution points as she pleased. The other Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers,cking the capabilities of Eldest Senior Sister but still desiring contribution points, resulted in the scripture vault being filled with many techniques that seemed impressive but were actually useless. Lu Yang suspected that if he were to write such techniques, he might be hung up and beaten by Eldest Senior Sister. Oh, probably there wouldnt even need to be an intervention by Eldest Senior Sister herself; the puppet might just do it. The Six Harmonies Eight Deste Immortal Technique? Evesting Fairy, upon hearing this name concocted by Lu Yang, seemed to recall something. That name sounds a lot like the techniques of Nonuple Immortal! Nonuple Immortal? Lu Yang repeated, knowing that Evesting Fairy rarely mentioned Nonuple Immortal. He learned from Evesting Fairy that Nonuple Immortal had an Immortal Physique, the first among the ancient immortals to achieve immortality. Whats the name of his technique? Lu Yang asked curiously. Eldest Senior Sister also showed rare interest, putting down her book to listen to Evesting Fairys response. Nonuple Immortals techniques are also self-written; he named his technique Chaos One Qi, Two Instruments, Four Images, Six Harmonies, Eight Destions, Nine Lands, Ten Heavens, Solely Revered Immortal Technique.'' I usually just call his techniques Numerical Immortal Techniques. Sometimes people call them Four Six Immortal Technique, Eighty Immortal Technique, or whatever rolls off the tongue. Anyway, Nonuple Immortal himself cant even fully pronounce his own techniques name. Lu Yang: Does Nonuple Immortal have some obsession with numbers? Eldest Senior Sister was somewhat speechless, initially hoping to guess the opponents strengths and weaknesses from the name of the technique. It seemed she was overly optimistic. As Lu Yang listened to ancient oddities in the spiritual space, he, along with Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, continued their spree of killing. Just then, they heard Yan Fei shouting. Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, Barbarian Bone are together! Yan Fei did this deliberately; the pressure from the trio was too much, even for his strength. He couldnt defeat these three strong and cunning bastards alone. He needed to gather everyones strength to take these three down. Only then would he have a chance to win the championship! Exposed so early? Meng Jingzhou thought they would have been revealedter, as he hadnt had enough fun yet. The trio spread their palms to check their tally numbers; even Barbarian Bone, who had the least, had three hundred fifty, while Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, needless to say, were utterly demonic, killing like hemp. What do we do, fight or run? Barbarian Bone asked. Run, of course. With our achievements, the top three positions should be ours. We just need to wait it out quietly until the end, Meng Jingzhou said, showing none of the honor typically associated with the Meng family lineage, uttering the word run with no burden on his conscience. They were all used to being mischievous as children, trained by their father like chasing ducks. Theyre here! someone left their cave and saw the three gathered together. Indeed, they were a team! They had been pretending since the start of thepetition. If not for Yan Feis suspicions, no one would have discovered them. It was a disgrace. As demonic cultivators, they were used to deceiving others, but when had it be their turn to be deceived so thoroughly? Not killing these three to vent their anger would hinder their cultivation progress! Lets run~ Meng Jingzhou cheerfully called out, leading the escape, with Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone following. Catch them! Theyre here! Kill them! Demon cultivators rarely coordinate inbat, let alone mobilize arge group of Foundation Building cultivators like this. It was unprecedented. They united, determined to capture these three! The higher-ups of the Undying Sect were amazed by this scene, acknowledging even theycked such influence. The sect leader nodded secretly, thinking these three were naturally suited to infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect as spies. He felt regretful that his two ipetent deputy sect leaders allowed such crucial pieces to leave the Dao Seeking Sect. If we really get caught, youll be the bait, Lu Yang told Meng Jingzhou. Why me? You came up with this n, you go! I came up with the n, but you added the details. Youre more important, you go! The idea is more important than the details, you go. The two courteously insisted the other act as bait, with Barbarian Bone unable to get a word in. He was just an actor. Ive caught up to them! someone skilled in tracking nearly grabbed Lu Yangs clothes. Just then, an invisible attack struck this person, sending him flying with a deep indent in his chest. Before closing his eyes, he saw nothing at his previous spot except a drifting talisman. What is this? The talisman drifted as if sentient, knocking away anyone approaching the trio. Finally, someone saw what the talisman was. Its an invisibility talisman! These three have an aplice! This invisibility talisman, drawn by Lu Yang, was so effective that even the most sensitive among them couldnt detect its bearer. The person who shouted then realized something was amiss. Whose invisibility talisman only hides the person but leaves the talisman visible? Lu Yang yelled at the talisman: Yan Fei, hurry up and kill them! Yan Fei is with them too?! The crowd was shocked. Was Yan Feis discovery of their plot just a ruse, part of the trap? Yan Fei, watching from a distance with frustration, was eighty zhang away, not the one with the invisibility talisman. I knew it, the one with the invisibility talisman is your clone! Yan Fei recalled that Lu Yang had a wooden clone. Someone quick-witted removed the talisman, revealing the person behind it. Bald Lu Yang, a Bodhi tree clone! Lu Yangs invisibility talisman could only hide the body, not the clothes, while the wooden clone used leaves for cover, which was part of the clone. In other words, the wooden clone was naked. Perfect for Lu Yangs invisibility talisman! The Bodhi tree clone, dressed in leaves like a wild man, Lu Yang controlled the clone to explode, releasing poison. Yan Fei anticipated this and summoned a north wind to disperse the poison. Kill! Lu Yang and the others were surrounded, countless hidden weapons and arms thrown at them, aiming to turn them into porcupines, while others attacked directly, attempting to kill them. The attack was relentless and unstoppable! Lu Yang sighed, At this point, we can only fuse The three exchanged nces, resolving to fuse in battle! Fusion? Yan Fei, unsure of what Fusion entailed, had a bad feeling. Dont be careless, theyre going to fuse! Yan Fei shouted, alerting everyone. Even the Undying Sects higher-ups were confused; they had never heard of cultivators being able to fuse? Barbarian Bone shouted, muscles bulging, grabbing Meng Jingzhous and Lu Yangs ankles. Meng Jingzhou activated his technique, his body glowing with a faint golden light, bing incredibly hard. Lu Yang sped his hands above his head, sword energy enveloping his body. The three person fusion! Yan Fei: ? (TL Note: Possibly a reference to Dragon Ball Z Fusions or mechasbining. If anyone recognises this reference, please let me know in thements. https://i.pinimg/originals/97/5f/9d/975f9d5761d3a768465dc2325ecf0a24.gif) (End of the chapter) Chapter 194: Child, What is Your Wish? Chapter 194: Child, What is Your Wish? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Not only was Yan Fei puzzled, but the higher-ups of the Undying Sect also felt enlightened. Was this the popr fighting style among the younger generation? Were they falling behind the times? Barbarian Bone, holding Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang, spun around in ce, sweeping away all hidden weapons and attacks. How bizarre, lets all attack together! Yan Fei shouted, leading the charge, and the others swarmed in. Even if it meant piling on numbers, they were determined to bury them! Fusion ultimate moveGiant Windmill! All three shouted in unison, with Barbarian Bone spinning them around rapidly. Now, Barbarian Bone wielded the most solid bludgeon and the sharpest de, advancing to attack and retreating to defend! Most importantly, both the bludgeon and de could strike on their own, showing great intelligence. Meng Jingzhou employed the Earth-shattering Six Styles, swinging his fists and leaving his enemies with swollen faces and shattered bones. Lu Yang used his hands as swords, generating sword energy and employing single-word sword spells, like a sword that could prop up the heavens, mercilessly reaping the lives of his enemies. This cooperation was simple but highly efficient; Barbarian Bone spun, Meng Jingzhou swung his fists, and Lu Yang wielded his hands. Each did their part without interfering with the others. Yan Feis armor split open from a cut inflicted by Lu Yangs sword energy. If it werent for his armor, he would have been bleeding by now! This Fusion move seemed reckless but was actually extremely powerful. Barbarian Bone transformed into an ancient demonic god, wielding the dual energies of yin and yang, slicing through the crowd. Opponents were either hammered to death by Meng Jingzhous head or sliced by Lu Yangs sword energy. After suffering a major loss, Yan Fei no longer dared to engage in closebat. Seeing this, others also nned to flee; revenge was sweet, but one needed to be alive to enjoy it. However, this move had two problems: one, all the kills were credited to Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou; two, it was very dizzying. Ugh The three retched. Despite their training, the duration was too short, and the intense spinning exceeded their limits. Lu Yang, while retching, reassured the others: I heard, heard that our dizzinesses from human organs. Once, once we reach the Golden Core stage, we can control our organs, and then we can use this move over and over! Really? Meng Jingzhou doubted Lu Yangs reliability. In theory, yes, lets try it when we reach the Golden Core stage. Seeing their poor condition, the others charged again. The trio changed tactics. When attacked, Barbarian Bone grabbed Meng Jingzhous ankles, and Lu Yang grabbed his neck, using Meng Jingzhou as a shield to block the attacks. Seeing this tactic work, Lu Yang and Barbarian Bone pressed their advantage, charging forward with Meng Jingzhou as their shield. Hey, hey, hey, you two are too much, we didnt agree to use me as a shield! Meng Jingzhou yelled. Even with his robust physique, catching the attacks was painful. The two put down Meng Jingzhou. As several people attacked from the same direction, Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone each grabbed one of Lu Yangs legs, while Lu Yang drew his demonic de and faced several opponents at once. His strikes were as fast and fierce as a snakes tongue, holding his own against them. Suddenly, Lu Yangs gaze sharpened, and with a push of his feet, he broke away, charging towards Yan Fei. Its you, always causing us trouble! Dont be overconfident! Yan Fei wasnt afraid of Lu Yang. You three attacking together might overwhelm me, but now that youre alone, you still think you can kill me? Yan Fei pulled out a jade flute, his lifebound Spiritual Treasure, capable of sonic attacks. Wuu Yan Fei blew the jade flute, aiming to cut down Lu Yang. Lu Yangs body sank into the ground, dodging the attack. The trees behind him were cleanly sliced at mid-trunk, a testament to the potential damage of the strike. Earth Escape Technique! Yan Fei was shocked, not expecting Lu Yang to master such a difficult elemental technique. Where will he appear?! Yan Fei quickly turned around, guessing that Lu Yang would attack from behind. But unexpectedly, the ground beneath him cracked open, and a Bodhi tree emerged, bearing two Lu Yangs. Lu Yang and his clone left the Bodhi tree simultaneously. The clone unleashed Tiger Fist, transforming into a fierce tiger and pouncing towards Yan Fei, while Lu Yang, wielding his demonic de, cleaved at Yan Fei. At this distance, he could control his clone effortlessly. Tiger Demon Lu Yang was ferociously unstoppable, and Lu Yangs de strikes were formidable. In closebat, Yan Fei had no time to blow his jade flute! Erge! The jade flute grew to eyebrow height, waving in Yan Feis hands to block the attacks from Lu Yang and his clone. The jade rod spun quickly, producing a whooshing sound. Lu Yang swiftly dodged to the side, avoiding the invisible sonic attack. This too was a method of blowing the jade flute! Quite the idea! Lu Yang sneered coldly, but he was already prepared, and this trick posed no threat. Such a move would be considered childs y at the Dao Seeking Sect, barely worth mentioning, only unexposed individuals like Yan Fei would consider using it as an attack method. And against absolute power, did Yan Fei really think he could cause a stir? Outside the Dao Seeking Sect, Lu Yang was confident in his invincibility at the Foundation Building stage, let alone having two of himself? Lu Yang executed sword techniques with his demonic de. The Tiger Demon roared, speaking human words. sh Technique! Tiger Descending the Mountain! The two attacked from different directions, tearing Yan Fei apart. The demonic de instantly recognized its master and devoured him, making Yan Fei its shortest-lived master. Deputy Sect Leader Jin witnessed this and asked the sect leader, Didnt you say Yan Fei was your sessor? Arent you going to stop this? The sect leader chuckled coldly, Sessor? That was just a role Yan Fei gave himself, using various hints to make people think he was my sessor to reap various benefits. Arent you going to punish him? Why should I? If he truly had the ability, Id acknowledge him as my sessor, wouldnt I? If not, like today, if he dies, he dies. Yan Fei wasnt excellent enough to be of significant concern to the sect leader. Have you chosen who is fortunate enough to be your vessel? the sect leader respectfully inquired of the Evesting Celestial. The Evesting Celestial had already chosen: Lu Yang. This person is ruthless and cunning, with talent and spiritual roots above par, barely qualified to be my vessel! Despite saying so, the Evesting Celestial actually considered Lu Yang the perfect vessel. The sect leader felt somewhat reluctant; Lu Yang was the most suitable demon cultivator he had seen since bing sect leader, but now he had been chosen by the Evesting Celestial. However, being chosen by the Evesting Celestial was an honor, and exchanging one Lu Yang for the Evesting Celestials return to the peak was a worthwhile deal. Let hime to the secret chamber. Yes. The sect leader stood in the air, exerting his presence: Thepetition is over, Lu Yang has the highest mark on his palm, and he is the first ce winner, fortunate to receive the blessing of the Evesting Celestial! Although Lu Yangs excellence was evident, thepetitors still felt regret at narrowly missing the blessing of the Evesting Celestial. Lu Yang,e with me. The sect leader beckoned, lifting Lu Yang into the air, and brought him to the front of the secret chamber. The sect leader advised Lu Yang, The blessing of the immortal is of great importance. Enter the secret chamber, and you will understand what I mean. Yes. Lu Yangs face beamed with a genuine smile, making the sect leader nod silently. Indeed, a devout follower of the Evesting Celestial. Lu Yang entered the secret chamber and found the Undying Sect to be quite poor; the chamber was pitch ck, without even a light. Suddenly, beneath the Evesting Celestials statue, an incense burner lit three sticks of incense. The smoke from the incense rose, forming the image of a kind old man. My child,e here. The kind old man beckoned to Lu Yang. Upon seeing the kind old man, Lu Yang was thrilled, Are you? The kind old man nodded with a smile: Yes, just as you guessed. Are you really the spirit of the statue? Evesting Celestial: My child, I am the Evesting Celestial. Tell me your wishes, and I shall help you fulfill them. (End of the chapter) Chapter 195: The Prototype of the Immortal Ariya-Phala Chapter 195: The Prototype of the Immortal Ariya-Ph Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Are you really an immortal, the Evesting Celestial? Lu Yangs body trembled, his hands fidgeted, and he couldnt stop smiling with excitement. My child, dont be so excited, I am right here, the Evesting Celestial said with a gentle face. You are the first-ce winner of thispetition. Although the first-ce performer in the Qi Cultivation group had notable merits, they do not surpass you. You truly deserve to be the first-ce winner. As a reward, I will fulfill one of your wishes. A wish? Are there any conditions? Just state it; I am omnipotent. I wish for the world to always be at peace. How about another one? The Evesting Celestial tentatively asked, admitting his previous statement might have been a bit exaggerated. In order to possess Lu Yang, he had to erase his soul, which was rooted deeply within his body. Even if removed, the roots remained,plicating aplete possession and hindering future cultivation. The best approach was to fulfill his wish, thus detaching the roots of his soul, allowing for a perfect possession. He thought Lu Yang, being only at the Foundation Building stage and an unaffiliated cultivator, would have modest wishes, perhaps asking for a celestial treasure at most, which could be given and then reimed after the possession. I wish for everyone to be able to be immortals. That was harder than the previous one. I wish for productivity to greatly develop so that people can obtain resources withoutbor and freely choose their preferred activities. Change it. Are you here to run a demonic sect, or are you nning to overthrow the Great Xia Dynasty and start a new dynasty? Lu Yang looked somewhat disappointed at the Evesting Celestial, wondering if this immortal was truly capable. He boasted bigger than Yellow Bean, yet couldnt fulfill a single wish. The Evesting Celestial was irked by Lu Yangs gaze, but he knew this matter couldnt be rushed. My child, all your wishes are rted to the world. Dont you have any personal wishes? the Evesting Celestial patiently guided, hoping Lu Yang would express a desire to be immortal, giving him a reason to possess Lu Yang. Using your body to be immortal counts as fulfilling a wish! Yes, I wish to cultivate to the level of creating and reshaping universes. Can your wishes be a bit smaller? If I were capable of that, would I still be here sweet-talking you? Seeing that the Evesting Celestialcked capability, Lu Yang stepped back. I have an Eldest Senior Sister, her cultivation is unmatched, and I wish to defeat her. Ha ha ha, that is effortlessly done, I could suppress her with a flick of my wrist, the Evesting Celestialughed heartily, finally hearing a simple wish. Just a Foundation Building stage Senior Sister, how high could her cultivation be? For the grand Evesting Celestial, suppressing such a minor figure was childs y. After possessing you, I will suppress that youngdy for you! Possession?! Lu Yangs pupils shrank, never expecting that the promised blessing from an immortal would turn into possession. He turned and ran, trying to escape from this den of evil. Give up, if you can escape from me, where would I put my face! Lu Yang felt the overwhelming pressure from the Evesting Celestial, akin to a mountain, and despair filled his heart. Would the oue change if he had not won? Would the oue change if he had not made a wish? Would the oue change if he had not joined the Undying Sect? Panic, regret, fear Numerous emotions surged through him, but it was toote. The Evesting Celestial, seeing the expression on Lu Yangs face, could not help but sneer, transforming back into dense smoke and flying into Lu Yangs mental space. Then he was immediately pped. Snap A crisp p sounded, and the Evesting Celestial was sent flying. Are you the bastard pretending to be me? A petnt woman began beating up the Evesting Celestial. To an uninformed outsider, it would look like a reckless young woman attacking a centenarian. Let me tell you, even Ying Tian and the others from ancient times wouldnt dare to do this, who do you think you are! Impersonating me, have you paid your respects, offered your tribute, did I nod in approval? Who is this! Evesting Celestial was baffled, unable to grasp what had just happened before he was pped. Why are there other people in the spiritual space? Is this kid so popr that everyone is lining up to possess him? I dont even recognize you, and yet you have the face to show yourself around? Evesting Fairy had long found him distasteful. He was masquerading under the name Immortal and deceiving others, while she, the real deal, was either despised by Lu Yang or bullied by Yun Zhi, living a miserable existence. Finally, the Evesting Celestial has entered the frame, and she could give him a proper thrashing! The Evesting Celestial looked unfamiliar to her; he was not one of the people she knew. Fairy Fist Technique! Evesting Fairy made up a name and began pummeling Evesting Celestial with punches that came down like rain, crisp and rapid. The technique seemed random but was exquisitely mastered; each strike was unpredictable. The Evesting Celestial felt every blow hit his vital and weak spots. Although he was in a soul state, he felt like he was about to cough up blood and kneel, his soul threatening to disperse into nothingness. What kind of demon or specter is this? Too much bullying! Evesting Celestial roared in anger. He wielded the immortal ariya-ph, and since his resurrection, he had been revered by the Undying Sect, getting everything his way, everything going smoothly. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? Immortal Through the Ages! Evesting Celestial shouted angrily, a golden light emanating from his palm, ethereal and brilliant, too dazzling to look at directly. This golden light was neither material nor soul but something beyond both. It possessed a strange power that made it seem indestructible and untouchable by anyw. Any attack that fell on Evesting Celestial would dissolve into nothingness. Prototype of the immortal ariya-ph? Evesting Fairy was surprised, finally understanding where the familiar faint aura on the sect leader came from. This imposter, he did have something of note. You are insightful, this is indeed the ariya-ph. Before it, I am immortal, ageless, undying, and indestructible, the only one through the ages, all destinies dissolve into nothingness, all attacks turn into void, your assaults cannot harm me! Having disyed the ariya-ph, Evesting Celestial felt confident. Yellow Bean showed a disdainful smile: Is that all? Proud of a mere imitation of me? Fairy Fist Technique! Yellow Bean swung her fists again, shattering the barrier that Evesting Celestial was proud of, her fists unrelenting, hitting directly on the face. This prototype of ariya-ph is somewhat interesting. Evesting Fairy casually snatched the prototype of ariya-ph, holding the golden material in her hands, curiously observing it. Inside the golden material, countless runes andws emerged and vanished, hinting at the eternal changes, the true meaning of immortality. Lu Yang curiously looked over, but Evesting Fairy pushed him aside: Go away, your realm is not high enough, you cant look at this. What have you done?! the Evesting Celestial panicked, originally the prototype of the ariya-ph was closely connected to him, even more intimately than his soul, supposedly impossible to separate by any force. But now, he couldnt feel the connection to the prototype of ariya-ph at all! He hadpletely lost control over it! Who is she! How did she do it! Boasting about ariya-ph in front of me is like bringing a knife to a gunfight, Evesting Fairy said smugly. Then another ethereal voice echoed, resonating in the Evesting Celestials ears, I heard you want to suppress me? Only then did the Evesting Celestial realize, besides Lu Yang and the mysterious woman who had taken his ariya-ph, there was a third person in the spiritual space! How many people are in your spiritual space?! Do we need to take queue numbers for possession these days? (End of the chapter) Chapter 196: Why Are There So Many People in Your Spiritual Space? Chapter 196: Why Are There So Many People in Your Spiritual Space? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii If there are two people in a spiritual space, the original owner and a powerful spirit, it could be exined that the powerful spirit has not yet decided to possess the body. But having three people in your spiritual space is just too much, does it really need to be this crowded? Now including himself, there are four people in the spiritual space. The Evesting Celestial, inexperienced, had never heard of anyones spiritual space housing four souls. Yun Zhi closed her book and watched the Evesting Celestial silently. With a respect for the elderly, she let Evesting Fairy strike first. Now, it was her turn. Even without the ariya-ph, I am still invincible! The Evesting Celestial regained his confidence, brushing off his previous disheartened state, and engaged again. Demonic Conquest of the World! Boundless ck demonic energy surged from within the Evesting Celestial, with numerous demonic heads writhing within it, emitting piercing screams that filled the entire spiritual space, rushing towards Yun Zhi. Yun Zhi didnt even look, she simply raised her jade arm, and the golden bell tied around her wrist chimed. Her voice was cool, like a fairy from a quiet lunar pce. Cloud Descending Palm. A palm strike was unleashed, and white clouds appeared behind Yun Zhi, swelling like the sea, engulfing the ck demonic energypletely. The clouds then transformed into towering waves, sweeping over the Evesting Celestial. Evesting Celestial felt like a mere pebble in the face of an overwhelming river, insignificant and powerless to resist. Netherworld Undying me! Eighteen Golden Bell Shield! Red and ck mes ignited from the Evesting Celestials chest, spreading rapidly, forming a thin film over his skin. Eighteen golden bells thunderously descended, enveloping the Evesting Celestial,yer uponyer, attempting to block the onught. The waves surged relentlessly, mercilessly battering the Evesting Celestial, shattering the eighteenyers of the golden bell shield. The red and ck mes formed a thin film that evaporated when it met the sea, and the Evesting Celestial bore the brunt of this impact, crashing into the edge of the spiritual space. Yun Zhi rose from her seat, stepping lightly, with lotuses blooming with each step she took toward Evesting Celestial. Stop, stop, I said stop!! The Evesting Celestial shouted harshly, his confidence shattered by the previous attack. Shatter Gold and Split Stone Palm! A mist-formed giant hand descended from the sky, capable of smashing mountains, cracking the earth, and shattering treasures. It was a well-known and formidable attack in the cultivation world. Yun Zhi simply waved her hand, and the misty giant hand dispersed like smoke. Indestructible Bodhi Body! Evesting Celestial deployed his divine body. If this were the outside world, his divine body would be tens of thousands of feet tall, towering and reaching for the stars, unaffected by any attack, while his own attacks could destroy heaven and earth. Constrained by the spiritual space, it was difficult to fully perceive the grandeur of the Indestructible Bodhi Body, but its power was undiminished. Die! Evesting Celestial, furious, attempted to crush Yun Zhi. Yun Zhi, without looking up, simply waved her hand twice, and the terrifying divine body was instantly dispersed like ash. Red Lotus Fall! Reverse Five Elements Killing Array! Buddha ying Fist Technique! Imperial Path Talisman! Evesting Celestial, no longer holding back, used everything at his disposal: palm techniques, fist techniques, arrays, talismans each attack was deep in skill, as if he had studied them for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Any ordinary cultivator would have been terrified by such an onught, but before Yun Zhi, these attacks were insufficient. Lu Yangs spiritual space seemed to be her domain; with a simple wave of her hand, like swatting flies, all attacks vanished. Far from being an immortal. Yun Zhimented on Evesting Celestials array of attacks, noting not just theck of power but also ack of vision. The same attacks, if performed by Evesting Fairy, would have been more effective. Are all these currently known techniques, have any ancient techniques been used? Yun Zhi noticed that although Evesting Celestial performed a variety of techniques, without exception, they were all modern, traceable ones, none of which were the lost ancient techniques. This was strange. After the great cataclysm of the ancient times, many traditions were lost, and most of todaysbat techniques were developed byter generations. If Evesting Celestial were an ancient immortal, he should be able to perform ancient supreme techniques like Evesting Fairy, such as the Water Avoidance Technique that strips away all water, or the rather embarrassing ying Dead Technique. Yun Zhi had not yet crushed Evesting Celestial with a single palm because she wanted to see what kind of attacks he could perform. Who are you, really! The level of Evesting Celestials panic exceeded even when his ariya-ph was taken, this power was absurdly strong. What kind of people are in this kids spiritual space? The previous person mysteriously took away his ariya-ph, and thetters cultivation and magical power are boundless! Didnt you say you would suppress me for Lu Yang? You are Lu Yangs Eldest Senior Sister?! Evesting Celestials voice rose an octave, his eyes widening as he momentarily forgot his current predicament, cursing Lu Yang shamelessly in his mind. What kind of absurd wishes had this kid made? One more outrageous than the next. He had thought defeating Lu Yangs Eldest Senior Sister would be a piece of cake, agreeing to possess Lu Yang upon entering. Now, it seemed the tables had turned. It should be Lu Yangs Eldest Senior Sister who could easily suppress him! What a huge pitfall. Evesting Celestial realized that Lu Yang was not truly his follower; he had pretended to be bait, and all this while was just to lure him in. Laughable that he thought he could possess a body perfectly suited for himself. Was the opponent a righteous undercover in the Undying Sect? But Lu Yangs performance in thepetition did not seem fake. Evesting Celestial suddenly understood everything Lu Yang was sent by another three demon sects! It all made sense now. Stop, stop, I give up, Ill tell you anything you want, just spare my life! Evesting Celestial knelt down and begged, his mindset changing incredibly fast. Speak, who are you really! Why are you impersonating me! Evesting Fairy stopped examining the prototype of ariya-ph, excitedly running over, with Lu Yang following behind and Yun Zhi quietly listening. All three wanted to know the answer. I am Evesting Celestial drew out his words, capturing the attention of the three, then suddenly released all his power and turned to run, trying to break through the spiritual space barrier to escape this hellish ce! Thud Unsurprisingly, he hit the barrier solidly, unable to break through. Yun Zhi had anticipated this and had preemptively strengthened the integrity of Lu Yangs spiritual space. Evesting Celestials tactic, which Daoist Non-Speaker had used many times before Yun Zhi, was ineffective. Still not being honest, Fairy Fist Technique! Yellow Bean clenched her fists and pummeled Evesting Celestials face like raindrops. Not the face, not the face, Ill really tell everything this time! Evesting Celestial saw the light, realizing that admitting defeat early was better than anything, as the opponent was experienced and no tricks would work here. Speak, what is your name! Yellow Bean boasted triumphantly. Im shameless. Hmm? Thats quite self-aware. (End of the chapter) Chapter 197: Leniency for Those Who Confess Chapter 197: Leniency for Those Who Confess Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii No, I mean my name is Shame Less, as in I want to feel shame less often. Evesting Celestial, now thoroughly humbled, answered every question, disying good manners. (TL note: The original is a Chinese pun. Ill put the original joke here. No, I mean my name is Bu Yao Lian, bu as in fabric, yao lian as in wanting face, Bu, , is his surname but its also a homophone for which means dont. Whenbined with his name, Ҫ, which means want face, it sounds like dont want face when its actually bu wants face) Evesting Fairy frowned, Why such a strange name? Lu Yang thought to himself, what right do you have to judge others names as strange? The Evesting Celestial sighed, I didnt choose this name for myself, exining this is a long story. Take your time, Evesting Fairy pulled up a little stool, sat down on it, resting her chin in her hands, ready to hear the Evesting Celestial exin. Yun Zhi and Lu Yang also listened quietly on the side. The Evesting Celestial spoke truthfully, I dont know where my consciousness came from, nor do I know how I came into being. A long time ago, I first became aware, but it was very faint, only vaguely aware of my own existence, like looking at flowers through fognot very clear. I felt an unknown force continuously gathering around me, making me gradually stronger, but my consciousness was still hazy and unclear, unable to discern the outside world. I also felt many memories being filled into my consciousness, but at that time Icked the ability to think, merely epting these memories without being able to organize or process them. My consciousness gradually became stronger, and I could faintly hear voices next to my consciousness shouting Evesting Celestial. My memories contained the term Evesting Celestial, but I still couldnt process these memories, not understanding what Evesting Celestial was. I dont know how much time passed, maybe hundreds of years, maybe thousands, but eventually, my consciousness suddenly became clear, like a drowning person being pulled from water, regaining awareness of the outside world. The first sentence I heard after my consciousness cleared wasGreat Evesting Celestial Shame Less, please save your devoted followers, save this world.'' Shame Less became my name. I originally had no name; it was the sect leader who called me Shame Less, and thats how I got my name. With a name, I could finally process those vast memories, understanding the meanings they represented. In the memories, I saw someone identally discover a secret realm, enter it, and learn about an ancient immortal called Evesting Celestial who protected humanity, possessing the immortal ariya-ph capable of resurrection. After leaving the secret realm, that person founded the Undying Sect, attempting to revive Evesting Celestial. The Undying Sect grew strong, and more and more followers joined, appeasing Evesting Celestial with killings, invoking the true name of the immortal to revive him. Then I understood, I am the Evesting Celestial that the Undying Sect revived. As long as someone truly believes in me, prays to me, and worships me, I would gain their memories. The sect leader prayed to me, and through the statue, I appeared in this world, meeting the sect leaders expectations. I possess the sect leaders memories, and whatever he knows, I know. I saw he was gravely injured, needing a century to recuperate. Considering he was my most devout and powerful follower, I helped heal him. As I gained a name, I could feel that I possessed a golden light, whichbined with the memories, I guessed was the immortal ariya-ph. I used part of the immortal ariya-phs power to heal the sect leader. But I dont know if I am truly Evesting Celestial. My earliest memoryes from the first follower, from over ten thousand years ago, and I dont have any memories from ancient times. For instance, when the sect leader asked who had refined the myriad stars, I couldnt answer this question, but I couldnt just say I didnt know, so I told him that it was a matter of high level, not for him to know. Im not sure how the believers would react if they knew my condition, so for now I must pretend to have awakened from the ancient times. Being in a spirit state for so long was unsustainable, so I told the sect leader that I needed a new body to return to my peak and save the world. The sect leader believed me and gathered all the Qi training and Foundation building disciples to hold apetition, from which I would select a suitable host. Then you chose me? Lu Yang asked. Evesting Celestial nodded helplessly, indeed, who else but you, who suffered a severe beating because of my poor choice in hosts. If it had been anyone else, the possession would have been sessful. Evesting Celestials ount rified some questions, like why he couldnt perform ancient techniques, why he needed to possess someone, and why his face was so undistinguished. However, there were still some questions that even he could not rify. For instance, who exactly is he? Where did hee from? How did the undying ariya-phe to exist? Lu Yang looked expectantly at the Eldest Senior Sister and the Evesting Fairy, hoping for insights from these well-informed seniors. Evesting Fairy furrowed her brows, deep in thought and seemingly unreliable. Eldest Senior Sister listened quietly to Evesting Celestials experiences, trying to discern whether they were true or fabricated. Eldest Senior Sister believed that the experiences were mostly true. She noticed Lu Yangs gaze, understanding that the junior brother had many questions and hoped to get answers from her. She spoke up, The Grand Elder Dao Yan of the Heavens Mysteries Sect once proposed a hypothesis: that originally, there was no Evesting Celestial, no undying ariya-ph; the Undying Sect was creating deities. Lu Yang nodded secretly, appreciating the reliability of the senior. Hearing Yun Zhis words, Evesting Celestial suddenly looked up, Where did this Dao Yane from to dare question the existence of my ariya-ph? Do you know how much effort I put into forming the ariya-ph? Ying Tian Immortal and the others all envied it! Lu Yang suggested that Evesting Fairy should first listen to what Eldest Senior Sister had to say, and then settle ounts with Dao Yanter. Yun Zhi continued, The origin and destiny of souls are still unsolved mysteries in the world of cultivation. Dao Yan believes that human thoughts are a form of power, and that if there are enough strong thoughts, a soul could emerge. Of course, this is just a hypothesis and it does not exin how the first soul came into being. But your situation fits this hypothesis. From its founding, the Undying Sect has been around for fourteen thousand years. During this time, at least a million devotees have prayed to the non-existent Evesting Celestial. Over such a long period, the sheer amount of thought energy could indeed create a soul, which is you, Evesting Celestial. However, another condition might be necessary for your emergencemurder. Have you ever considered where the resentful demonic energy you recently used came from? Humans are the noblest of creatures, the favored children of Heaven and Earth, born with spirituality. The practice of demonic cultivation involves killing to strip away a persons spirituality and convert it into ones own power. The followers killed to please you, resulting in boundless karmic murder. The power gained from these killings became your power, the power at the Tribtion Crossing Stage. (End of the chapter) Chapter 198: The Man Behind the Curtain Chapter 198: The Man Behind the Curtain Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The gap between mortals and immortals is like a chasm, not merely bridged by will alone. Evesting Celestial has not reached the realm of immortals and is at the Tribtion Crossing Stage. Although hecks a physical body, possessing only a soul, he does not fully qualify as at the Tribtion Crossing Stage, but he has mastered the nascent form of the immortal ariya-ph, whichpensates for hisck ofbat prowess. If a being at the Tribtion Crossing Stage encounters Evesting Celestial in the mental space, they would find themselves at a disadvantage. However, Evesting Celestial happened to meet the genuine Evesting Fairy. The nascent form of ariya-ph is powerless in the presence of the true ariya-ph. After being reprimanded, Evesting Celestial realized that he is not a true immortal, but rather an imitation of Evesting Fairy. As for how the ariya-ph came into being, senior, what are your thoughts? Yun Zhi posed this question to Evesting Fairy. Evesting Fairy had been pondering this very question and she presented a golden glow: My initial judgment was not wrong. This item can be reluctantly called an immortal ariya-ph, though it is far from mature and is merely a nascent form. The emergence of ariya-ph should follow the same principle as this youngsters appearance, both reliant on the power of will. Lu Yang was curious, Can ariya-ph be formed just by willpower? If so, wouldnt bing an immortal be very simple? Evesting Fairy shook her head, correcting Lu Yangs misunderstanding, Its not the ariya-ph, but its nascent form. Not to mention that this ariya-ph is the result of over ten thousand years of umtion by the Undying Sect, just the production of a nascent form through willpower alone has significant limitations. Ariya-ph is a sign of bing an immortal, a final product that can change the rules of the world, a concept far beyond Lu Yangs understanding, something he cannot grasp at this moment. The difference between ariya-ph nascent form and ariya-ph is vast. I can produce as many nascent forms of immortal ariya-ph as I want, but there will always be only one immortal ariya-ph, which is the one I possess. With that, Evesting Fairy showed a confident smile, believing her immortal ariya-ph to be the strongest, superior to those of Ying Tian Immortal and others. As for the ariya-ph nascent forms, in her view, they were inferior. But the nascent forms might rece the ariya-ph. Yun Zhis words threw cold water on Evesting Fairy, who instantly cooled down. What do you mean by that? Lu Yang asked. Only Evesting Fairy and Yun Zhi knew the truth about the ariya-ph; Lu Yang and Evesting Celestial werepletely in the dark. Evesting Celestial couldnt even differentiate between ariya-ph and its nascent form; if not exined now, he wouldnt even know how his ariya-ph nascent form came into existence. Yun Zhi exined, The ariya-ph nascent form is crude and simplistic, even its internal structure is unstable. If the ariya-ph nascent form gradually matures, it will be increasingly simr to the ariya-ph. And since only one of the same kind of ariya-ph can exist, a mature ariya-ph must be discarded for the nascent form to fully mature. Lu Yang was astonished, So you mean to say that the fairys ariya-ph might be reced by an immortal ariya-ph nascent form? Lu Yang was worried for the fairy; although she was not particrly reliable and often unhelpful, creating trouble for him, he still hoped that she would always possess her ariya-ph and not be usurped. Yun Zhi shook his head, his expression grave, The senior holds the highest authority in the Immortal lineage, no one can contend with her in the realm of Immortality, not even a nearly mature ariya-ph nascent form. The recement of ariya-ph by its nascent form can only ur under one circumstancewhen the ariya-ph is ownerless, and the nascent form has an owner. Lu Yang breathed a sigh of relief: Thats good, the fairy is still alive, no one can rece her. But she was not supposed to be alive. Hearing Eldest Senior Sisters words, Lu Yang felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Indeed, if he hadnt inadvertently called out Evesting Fairys true name, she might not have been able to resurrect by the end of the great conflict. Perhaps as Eldest Senior Sister said, without him, it would take another 300,000 years for someone to identally call out Evesting Fairys true name. But if Evesting Fairy hadnt resurrected and Evesting Celestial was able to mature the immortal ariya-ph nascent form, recing the original immortal ariya-ph. By the time of the great conflict, Evesting Celestial leading the Undying Sect would make his name known, and by then, who would dare to casually utter Evesting Fairy as a joke. By then, Evesting Fairy might never be able to resurrect, truly dead. Evesting Fairy also realized this and was terrified. Yun Zhi organized her thoughts briefly: In ancient times, the senior was assassinated, the immortal ariya-ph lost its owner, bing ownerless. The man behind the scenes made the concept of the immortal ariya-ph public, fabricating the non-existent Evesting Celestial, making the followers of the Undying Sect believe, envision, and resurrect Evesting Celestial, while Evesting Celestial himself was unaware, desperately trying to mature the ariya-ph nascent form. When the time was ripe, the man behind the scenes would act, harvesting the immortal ariya-ph for himself. Now the only uncertainty is whether the man behind the scenes wants to harvest the mature immortal ariya-ph, or just before it matures, or perhaps he has already arrived? At this, Yun Zhis voice was as cold as eternal ice, his murderous intent chilling Lu Yang. Yun Zhi and Evesting Fairy unleashed their spiritual awareness, sweeping through every inch of the surrounding area, determined to uncover the man behind the scenes. Suddenly, in the corner of the secret room, space trembled, and a dark figure walked in rhythmically pping his hands, praising Yun Zhis extraordinary abilities. Lu Yang stared at the dark figure, who was right here, yet his spiritual awareness scanned nothing. Lu Yang felt like the man was an unfathomably deep ck hole, with tremendous ambition capable of devouring everything, utterly terrifying. Yun Zhi and Evesting Fairy positioned themselves in front of Lu Yang, wary of the neer. Truly, as the strongest of the Five Great Immortal Sects, you pose the biggest threat in Central Continent to me. Originally, I came here to see if the immortal ariya-ph nascent form had really formed, but I didnt expect such a great gain just from observing for a few days. The dark figure looked towards Evesting Fairy, and although his face was unclear, Lu Yang felt he was smiling. Unexpectedly, Evesting Fairy, you have resurrected, the biggest variable, beyond my expectations. Since you have resurrected, the n to rece the ariya-ph with the immortal ariya-ph nascent form is now null and void, what a pity for the 14,000 years of preparation by the Undying Sect, all for naught. The dark figure shook his head in regret, unsure whether he felt sorry for the Undying Sect or for his own schemes. Ying Tian, Qilin, Immemorial, Nonuple, which are you! Come out and show your true face! Evesting Fairy shouted harshly, the person intending to erase her existence, a feud of life and death, unresolvable! A confrontation between her and the shadow was inevitable! The shadow shook his head,ughing wryly: Were there really only five immortals in your era? Is Nonuple truly the first immortal? Fairy, so many things are uncertain, how can you be sure I am one of those four? Deceiver! Evesting Fairy gritted her teeth. Yun Zhi said no more, acting decisively with full force. The shadows expression hardened: Indeed, your strength is far greater than you show to the outside world, even my true form would likely not be able to defeat you. After the ancient times, to have someone like you is truly a miracle of nature. Knowing he was no match, the shadow chose to self-destruct. What a pity for my true body, unable to know whats happening here. (End of the chapter) Chapter 199: Who Could It Be? Chapter 199: Who Could It Be? Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii Knowing he was no match for Yun Zhi, and the gap between them too great, the dark shadow knew his chances of escaping sessfully were slim. Rather than expose himself, it was better to self-destruct immediately to keep his true body safe. If Yun Zhi were to find hisir, the great conflict and his true body would no longer be connected. Damn it, why does such a person exist in the Central Continent! Could it be that all the fortune of the world is concentrated in the Central Continent? And why did Evesting Fairy resurrect? Apart from those few, not many people know of Evesting Fairys existence, let alone her name! How exactly did Evesting Fairy resurrect! Only by reciting her honorable title and true name could she be resurrected. Who recited it?! The immortal ariya-ph is indeed as described, eternally immortal, capable of resurrection even afterplete destruction. As the dark shadow self-destructed, questions surged in his mind, unanswered. His self-destruction was silent, his body turned to dust, the dust to spiritual energy, returning to the cosmos. He ran away? Lu Yang was puzzled, the dark shadows methods were too profound for him to understand. Yun Zhi shook her head lightly, her eyes revealing a killing intent mixed with regret: He didnt run, he ended himself. Then, does his true body know about the situation here? About Evesting Fairy? Lu Yang thought of the shadowsst words before self-destructing, What a pity my true body wont know whats happening here. Was it a diversion, or was it true? Yun Zhis response denied Lu Yangs thought: His true body wont know, and his clone wouldnt dare let the true body know. If the situation of his clone could inform his true body, then I could use the connection between the clone and the true body to find the true body. Lu Yang also did not understand Eldest Senior Sisters methods. However Yun Zhis eyes held a trace of doubt, as if pondering something. However what? The dark shadow felt very familiar; I might have fought with him before. Both Lu Yang and Evesting Fairy were surprised. Yun Zhi continued, It was about a hundred years ago, I sensed an immortal appearing in the Central Continent, I asked him to reveal his identity, but he refused, and soon after we engaged in battle. He probably didnt anticipate my strength, and was at a disadvantage as soon as we crossed hands. I pressed my advantage, injuring him, and seeing that continuing the fight would not end well for him, he feinted an attack on the city below. While I protected the city, he escaped. By the time I wanted to pursue him, he had already vanished. That person concealed his identity using chaotic mist, and his techniques were fairlymon, indistinguishable in origin, very simr to the dark shadow we encountered today. Yun Zhi believed todays dark shadow is the clone of the man from a hundred years ago. Lu Yang pondered; if Eldest Senior Sisters guess is correct, then what the dark shadow said, Indeed, your strength is far greater than what you show to the outside, would be pretending not to know Eldest Senior Sisters strength, which is a lie. The more Lu Yang thought about it, the more usible it seemed. If he didnt know Eldest Senior Sisters strength, why would his first reaction be to self-destruct rather than flee? This doesnt make sense. The dark shadow barely spoke a few words throughout, and most likely, most of them were lies. Old cunning fellow. Evesting Celestial was terrified, although the two fairies didnt hold back when attacking him, each hitting harder than the other, at least they hadnt killed him. If he fell into the dark shadows hands, not only would the ariya-ph be stolen, but murder to silence him would likely ur. Can the fairy guess who he is? Lu Yang asked. Evesting Fairy frowned, somewhat hesitant: The Nonuple Immortal is best at manipting clones, but the other three could also achieve this if they wished. Is it possible that besides you five, there are other immortals? Lu Yang continued to inquire. Evesting Fairy herself seemed uncertain upon hearing Lu Yangs question. Could it be that Nonuple Immortal really wasnt the first immortal? How did you determine that Nonuple Immortal was the first immortal at the time? Evesting Fairy recalled, When Nonuple Immortal ascended to immortality, the heavens and earth shone with immortal light, celestial music yed, and nine-colored raindrops fell from the sky, bringing blessings and cheers, benefiting all living beings. Later, when the four of us ascended, none of this urred. Lu Yang was astonished: Is that the special treatment for the first one to be immortal? Yun Zhi nodded, having seen records of Nonuple Immortals ascension in ancient texts, consistent with what Evesting Fairy described, or rather, as a participant, her description was more detailed. The first one to be immortal was indeed extraordinary. Evesting Fairy shook her head, No,ter when the five of us were eating, Nonuple Immortal, having drunk too much, told us that the phenomena at the time of his ascension were all orchestrated by him, using up a lot of heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Lu Yang: Yun Zhi: Why does every ancient tale Evesting Fairy tell seem to refresh their understanding? Lu Yang even felt that the ancient times described by Evesting Fairy and the shadow didnt seem to belong to the same narrative. In a mysterious ce, a ck silhouette sat on a throne built of skeletons. He opened his immortal eyes, emitting boundless immortal light, illuminating the heavens and the earth. The sh of immortal light made the ground full of corpses and skeletons appear especially eerie. The ck silhouette slowly stood up, stretching his body, frowning slightly: Why is this chair so ufortable? Whose idea was it to make a chair out of bones, without even a cushion? The ck silhouette shook his head, deciding to find another ce to sleep. Suddenly, the ck silhouette sensed something unusual and hummed. What is it, my lord? A servant cautiously asked. Has my clone sent to the Undying Sect disappeared? The ck silhouette could always sense the connection with his clone, determining its location. Just now, the connection with his clone waspletely severed, which meant it had been eradicated. The loss of this clone, into which he had poured countless efforts, was indeed painful to admit. What? My lords clone has disappeared?! The servant was genuinely shocked. Being an immortal, a single clone of an immortal was powerful enough to dominate the world, how could it disappear in the Central Continent? The ck silhouette pondered: Who could be responsible? He immediately ruled out Evesting Celestial, a soul created from willpower, whose capabilities he could guess; it was impossible for such a being to silently kill his clone. There are only a few people in the Central Continent capable of killing his clone. He had sent a clone instead of going himself because he was worried about being discovered by a few individuals in the Central Continent. He was not yet ready to reveal his identity. Even if his clone were captured, it was impossible for anyone to deduce his identity from the clone, and it might even mislead them into suspecting other immortals. Its best to be cautious in life. Otherwise, living carelessly like Evesting Fairy, one might unexpectedly be killed one day. Is it that guy in the pce? Is it Yun Zhi from the Dao Seeking Sect? Or someone else? His clone was hidden within the Undying Sect, only those who had contact with the Undying Sect could be involved, possibly only The Great Xia Dynasty, alwaysmitted to fighting demonic cults, and the Five Great Immortal Sects, known for subduing demons and eradicating evil. (End of the chapter) Chapter 200: Im Still a Baby! Chapter 200: Im Still a Baby! Trantor: yikaii Editor: yikaii The guy in the pce lives in a forbidden area and seldom makes a move, so hes unlikely. So, is it Yun Zhi from the Dao Seeking Sect? Thats not right either. My clone was hiding near Evesting Celestial. The Undying Sect is always careful; how could someone sneak up on them? Could it be that Evesting Celestial has awakened his conscience, turned from evil to good, and voluntarily surrendered to The Great Xia Dynasty or the Dao Seeking Sect for leniency? Mentioning those few people from the Central Continent, the ck shadow felt troubled. Ever since the end of the ancient times, he had been plotting, and everything had been going ording to n, supposedly without any issues. Neither the era of Great Qian nor Great Yu had deviated from his ns, iming that future generations would have the chance to be immortals, putting people to sleep to wake them during the great conflict to divert attention. But it was only during The Great Xia Dynasty that continuously, individuals not in his ns emerged, bing immortals. Those who became immortals were no longer just pawns but chess yers of equal status to him, forcing him to modify his ns repeatedly. Especially that Yun Zhi, so young yet supremely talented. Lord, may I ask, this Yun Zhi is The servant recalled the influential figures of the Central Continent, among whom there was no one named Yun Zhi. The lord rarely praises anyone so freely; how extraordinary must this Yun Zhis talent be? The ck shadow scoffed, Shes just a little girl from the Dao Seeking Sect. A hundred years ago, I went to the Central Continent, and she personally came out to greet me, even warmly asking me where I was from. I couldnt be bothered with her, and she couldnt say much. Later, seeing she had some abilities, I exchanged a few moves with her, giving her a couple of pointers. After the encounter, when I wanted to leave, she persistently followed, asking for more guidance. I think interactions between cultivators should be as light as water; why force it? Its best if our paths do not cross again, as too many pointers might interfere with her own path. I used a technique to leave directly, not wanting to get entangled with her any further. The lords cultivation is unparalleled throughout the ages. The servant praised, bowing, which made the ck shadowugh heartily. The servant felt fortunate; getting involved in the great conflict, a slight misstep could lead to irreversible doom, but following the lord was safe. The lords supreme cultivation and calctions could definitely give him an edge in the great conflict. Following the lord and benefiting even just a little would be enough for a lifetime of happiness, and with some luck, perhaps even achieving immortality. Thinking back to his encounter with Yun Zhi a hundred years ago, the ck shadow felt embarrassed. Of course, he couldnt admit that he had been eagerly trying to take advantage of her youth, only to be soundly beaten and forced to flee. He had lived for countless years, yet to be defeated by a child and forced to run was a disgrace. He couldnt say these things to his subordinates; it would damage his prestige. Remembering the incident a hundred years ago, he had intended to visit the Undying Sect to check how close they were to producing the nascent form of ariya-ph, but before he could reach the Undying Sectsir, he was spotted by Yun Zhi, and a great battle ensued. Thinking of Yun Zhis demonstrated strength, the ck shadow felt she could be considered the foremost person in the Central Continent, the biggest obstacle in the great conflict. Thus, since then, he had sent only clones to the Central Continent to avoid being captured. Could it be that The Great Xia Dynasty is favored by destiny? The notion of destiny is elusive. To be immortal, one needs talent, strength, and also luck. Like that one who learned tomand with his words at the Tribtion Crossing Stage, he could have be immortal, but his luck was poor, encountering Yellow Bean and perishing midway. The ck shadow thought for a long time but couldnte up with an answer, so he decided not to dwell on this issue any longer. Let it be, no need to think about these things. Since the clone was killed, it shows that others have discovered the matter of the nascent immortal ariya-ph. People in the Central Continent will be vignt against immortals sneaking into the maind, and being discovered would cause unnecessary trouble. I wont go to the Central Continent for the time being; Ill make my move when the immortal ariya-ph is nearing maturity! If I can obtain the immortal ariya-ph, I will have a significant advantage in the great Who would get the immortal ariya-ph if she didnt die? It was unimaginable at the beginning, that it would be her who could produce the immortal ariya-ph. Its enviable The ck shadows voice faded away, leaving only a pile of dry bones as he departed from the ce. How should we deal with the Undying Sect? Lu Yang raised the question, having achieved the objective of this trip by finding the headquarters of the Undying Sect, capturing Evesting Celestial, and even forcing a clone of the man behind the scenes to self-destruct. Now the only question that remained was how to handle the Undying Sect. Would rashly dealing with the Undying Sect startle the snake, making the man behind the scenes notice something was amiss? Could they use the Undying Sect to lure out the man behind the scenes? Yun Zhi looked at Lu Yang, surprised at his question. Of course, we should report it. Ah? With so many people, our Dao Seeking Sect wouldnt be able to handle the interrogation alone; better to let The Great Xia Dynasty take care of it. Lu Yang almost blurted out, Does our Dao Seeking Sect even have such formal methods? In Lu Yangs mind, wasnt the Dao Seeking Sect known for torture, intimidation, infiltrating demonic sects, and winning first ce in demonicpetitions? Oh right, half of that was what I did. When are we reporting this? Lu Yang was eager, finding the thrill of dismantling a major hub exhrating. Yun Zhi thought for a moment: Four days ago? What? Yun Zhi exined, Just after we entered the headquarters four days ago, I left my body spiritually and went to report to The Great Xia Dynasty. The reason we didnt act immediately was that we were waiting for all the Foundation Building and Qi Training people to arrive so we could round them up all at once. Of course, capturing Evesting Celestial was an unexpected bonus, which I hadnt anticipated. Evesting Celestial felt like he was just wasting time; he didnt need to do anything like soul snatching. As long as he didnte forward, even if the whole Undying Sect was destroyed, The Great Xia Dynasty couldnt find him. Yun Zhi turned her attention to Evesting Celestial: As for you Evesting Celestial quickly said, My attempt at possession failed, which could be considered akin to attempted murder, not warranting the death penalty! Ive always abided by thew, never done anything illegal, look, even the statue is looking at the criminalw. Lu Yang looked and indeed, the statue of Evesting Celestial was holding a criminalw book. The sect leader was quick to act, having already changed the statue of Evesting Celestial to hold the criminalw book, aiming to encourage the followers to study thew. Moreover, my soul was onlyplete from the moment I received my name, and its only been five days since then. I am only five days old, still a baby. ording to The Great Xia criminalw, I am of an age without criminal responsibility and do not bear criminal liability or undergo penal punishment. Im still a baby! Please, show mercy, raise your noble hand, and spare me! Lu Yang stared at Evesting Celestials aged face that seemed almost ready for the grave, thinking his name really wasnt given wrongly. Could you really say such shameless things? (TL Note: As previously mentioned, his name in chinese Bu Yao Lian sounds like shameless) (End of the chapter)